The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1920-04-30

trend of the times and the obvious ne
ceSsities of the railroad situatien has
worked the undoisg OF the shippers. a.
well as Of the railroads.
1t Is obvious that We should adopt q
| defKtfe, comprehensive and adequate
policy for developing our railroad ex'
tensLshs, a policy based on dennite, de-
terrEiHing factors. II seems very Ger.
tain that from the present plan OF cor
ordinated. centralized operation. with
its many savings and added eficiencies
made possible by Government control.
there viii be no reversion to the old
system OF competitive private owner
ship and conflicting regulation.
II not that. then what do we facet
On every hand we hear the prophecy
| made that the present control OF the
railroads by the Government 10 but
the FIRST step toward Government own
ership, and that once unified under
Government direction the railroads
will never be -unscra mhled"
But u no country In the world
where Government ownership Of rail-
roads has been attempted has II been
successful, with the single exception
OF Prussia. where, under the arbitrary
mandates of a military autocracy,
some degree OF efficiency and profit
has been secured Further. In 40 I'm
portant instance has the experience of
our own Government In business oper-
alton or ownership of any form Of pub
lie utilities been such as to warrant
the conclusion that such ACTIVITY could
be probably extended
The privately owned railroads OF the
United States have the lowest freight
rates. the lowest capitalization per
mile. the greatest operating efficiency
and pay the highest wages Of any rail-
roads In the world.
If private ownership has failed. both
when unregulateo and when overreg-
ulared, and Government ownership
gives no promise OF success. what plan
offers for meeting the situadon7
Various suggestions OF q central Fed
eral corporation, regional holding com
panies, Government guarantees and
plans calling for profit sharing with
the Government above 8 nxed return
have been frequently made. Some
where along this line OF thonghi lies a
rational solution. It is very certain
that the old days OF enforced cornpe-
tition, antitrust laws, anti-pOoIing
laws. conflicting State regulation.
wasteful competition. duplication of
service, would not be permitted by a
public alive TO Its own interests.
II seems equally certain that Gov
eminent ownership would n0s be per-
mitted II the public were equally alive
TO Its real interests. The hour has ar
rived for the suggestion OF some plan
which must be made ready for adop-
ton as soon as possible, now that the
crisis OF war has passed Somewhere
within the meaning OF the words "co-
operation and partnership" lies the
answer. The public interest In trans
portation Is paramount and must be
protected. but public interest and pri-
yats interest need not be in conflict II
intelligently regarded.
Regional companies representing
both private and public capital under
private operation with governmental
participation in the management and
earnings above just guarantee would
seem to assure the necessary extension
Of railroad facilities. In unity of In
terest and understanding progress to-
wards the desired goal should be pos
sibie