Evening star., 1923-05-27
BRYAN FEARS j. s.
MUST TAKE ROADS
Apparently impossible to
Regulate Lines Satisfac-
toriIy, He Declares.
Rr the Associated Press

By the Associated Press.
CHICAGO. May 26.-Raiiroad VAL
uation is an economic problem of fun
damental Importance to every inter
est of America, speakers today told
the conference on railroad valuation.
composed of members of the pro
gressive bloc" in Congress, railroad
labor leaders. sponsors of govern
ment ownership of railroads, and
spokesmen for farmers organization.
The conference completed it's or
ganization meeting. outlined a ten
tative program of activity and ad-
journed subject to the call of the
permanent chairman, Senator Robert
NJ La Toilette of Wisconsin.
Besides Senator La Toilette. other
officers chosen on recomme ndation of
the committee on permanent organi-
Zation were:
Id. G. Man Elected.
First vice chairman. Representative
George Huddleston of Alabama; sec
ond vice chairman. Senator Robert L.
owen of Oklahoma: third vice chair
man. Edward keating of Colorado;
secretary. Representative w r.
Logan of South Carolina: treasurer.
William II. Johnston. Washington.
d. c. The six officers were author
tee. appoint a state chairman for
each state. the chairman TO organize
state groups.
In resolutions the conference called
on the Interstate Commerce Commls-
sion. in making valuation of the rail-
roads to pay particular attention to
the reporting of original cost, dona-
tions and methods of valuation, and
refrain from issuing any further tens
tative valuations or final valuation
until the commission has so com
piled with law" Legal action against
the commission was threatened in the
resolution unless the commission
complies with the valuation act.
Will Take Up Rates.
Another resolution declared that
Congress has never adequately eXer-
Ci%ed its power to define the rules for
fixing reasonable rates, and recon-
mended that the organization take up
this and such other aspects of the
transportation problem "as may be
found advisable to advance and pro-
tect the public interest"
William Jennings Bryan. the prin-
cipal speaker at the public session
preceding an executive meeting of
invited delegates. told the assemblage
he thought government ownership of
the carriers might be forced on the
country by the apparent impossibility
of providing satisfactory regulation
He did not relish the thought, he
said, because he was afraid of the
Capitalization of power in Washing
ton,' but government ownership
seemed inevitable, because God
never made men good enough to with
stand the temptations of one put at
the head of a private monopoly"
Denies Farm Prosperity.
w. c. Lansdon of Kansas, national
lecturer of the Farmers cooperative
and Legislative Union, said the rail-
roads were making money every year.
and that with the consequent in
creasing capitalization of the lines
transportation charge sometime would
be greater than business could stand
The railroads were charging the pub
lie interest on the public's money he
said, and in addition were charging
more for service than farmers could
afford.
Recent figures published showing
apparent Improvement in the econom-
ic condition of Americas farmers. he
characterized as humbug which neg
lects the reduced purchasing power
of the dollar. Most of the farmers
money went for interest, rent, or tax
es. he said, while the railroads and
insurance companies added millions
of surplus every year"