The Cordova daily times., 1922-12-13
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1922
IS GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP AHEAD?

There are dark days ahead for the produc- tive industries of the United States if, as some writers profess to believe, the recent election foretelIs legislation antagonistic to the rail roads The transportation system has just re- gently emerged from a period of suppression due i'll part to complex government regulation and in part to government operation.
 For many years state and national regu- latory bodies have limited freight and pass age rates and the revenues to be derived therefrom Coincident with that limitation of income, there was no compensatory limitation of expense Under such a policy the net earnings of the railroads steadily diminished, upkeep was neglected and the financial re- sources of the roads became so bad that thelr credit was impaired.
 Following that long period of strangling regulation came the period of government management when there was a studied ln- crease of cost of operation, demoralzatlon of the operating forces and no corresponding increase in revenues The roads were turned back to their private owners in almost a bank rupt condition, but with an opportunity under the provisions of the Transportation Act to restore themselves to somewhere near satls- factory business basis
 At the present time there is a shortage of cars and locomotives, which shortage Is brlng~ ing loss to many producer who has goods to ship Construction and extension of terminals has not kept pace with the growth of indus try throughout the country. Double-tracks side tracks and other improvements designed to facilitate the prompt and economical hand- ling of traffic have been necessarily neglected If the country needs any one thing today IL needs an improved, dependable and pros porous transportation system, ready at all times to carry all the goods American pro- ducers have to offer and operated under that standard of efficiency which can be attalned only under private management, where com petition for business furnishes the incentive
 Legislation antagonistic to the railroads now can mean only one thing bankruptcy and government ownership and operation. Ii bankruptcy and government ownership meant cheaper CT better transportation serv1ce, such an outcome might we'll be welcomed, but ex- pcrience in this country and elsewhere demon strates that an opposite result would be sui fered There is nothing to be gained by the people of tho country in operating railroads at less than cost and paying the deflclt out ot the public treasury.
 Probably no one will question the state ment lnaC government oPeIdCioI io Hioio 0A- pensive and less efficent than private opera ton. Ultimately the costs must fall upon pro ducers and consumers who must pay either through freight and passenger rates or through taxes. Neither the farmer, nor the manufacturer, nor the professional man, nor the city laborer has anything to gain by fore ing the railroads into government ownership.
 Yet, if common interpretations of the re cent election are correct that seems to be the direction toward which we are bound. More over, this movement is accelerated by the ac- tivity of considerable body of Bolshevists who would be glad to see the railroads wrecked in order to force the only alternative government ownership and operation.
 The American people, like Secretary Hughes, are too wise to be stirred by flood of foreign propaganda urging us to carry on