Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-03-08
Railroads on Trinl

DRINATE ownership, management and
l operation OF the transportation proper
ties of this country has been given one more
chance TO achieve the results which the coun-
try demands. Congress and the President have
consented 10 the return OF the roads TO the
keeping of their owners. The delivery has
taken place. Private managers are in the
saddle and the test is being applied.
II the existing regime fails, however TO
provide the service; if it fails to do the work
ahead at reasonable cost 10 the shipper
and the passenger; if it fails to make i'm
provements' needed. and extensions which n
growing country has Il right to expect; if it
fails to prevent disastrous wage disputes;
III short. if il fails to satisfy the public, the
time Is not far distant when the government
will again take over the roads. And the
next time this comes TO pass it will be
ownership, not merely control. 1t will be
PEI manent appropriations not temporary.
II must be agreed that many millions OF
conservative Americans have become con-
WINGED that the time for competitive opera
ton of the railroads has passed: that the
time for expensive service in order to make
profitable unnecessary investments in trans
portation properties has passed and the
time for Juggling of railroad finances and
the actual operation OF the great transpor-
tation lines by bankers and brokers, instead
OF by expert railroad men. has passed.
Even so, the country as whole is not
prepared to go irrevocably into the business
OF owning and managing its railroad sys-
tens. 1t prefers TO return to the conditions
that existed prior 10 1915. 1t prefers to
deal directly for while longer with re-
sponsible and responsive private managers.
II feels that 1t can set swifter results and
more satisfactory service at the hands OF the
men who are in II post ION to capitalize such
results and service Moreover, the coun-
try shrinks from the &ocialism which gov
arr ,nrt orcl; ID
make effective.
Although the railroads are now in the
hands of their owners, those owners have
less freedom of action than over before The
government has exercised it's power of regu-
lation by directing the Interstate Commerce
Commission 10 keep firm hand upon the
throttle. That body has full authority to
fix rates. provided those rates are in keep
ins with section Of the reorganization act.
II has wider authority over railroad financ-
ing than ever before. and it may consent to
mergers which. in the past, were regarded
as unlawful
This means that the actual fixing Of rail-
road policies of the broader sort will still
be subject to the approval OF the govern
ment. II is not clear that the government
is in a position TO require such processes as
the elimination of wasteful competition. but
1t is certainly in a position to approve or
disapprove such processes ii they are mi
tiated by the railroads themselves.
The country az whole will take moro
direct interest in the railroad problems from
this time on than ever before, except per-
haps at the outbreak of the war. 1t will
watch every move the individual liues may
make. 1t will hope for general Improvement
in service, and il will hope that ultimately
the cost Of transportation may be reduced
II the public is disappointed in any mpor-
tant respect, the railroad managers may ex-
n pyl and fnr
ownership a demand that may easily be-
come irresistible