Evening star., 1932-08-08

The statement unanimously approved
by the Association of Railway Execu-
tives at its recent meeting in New York,
in which it was urged that the railroads
be allowed equality of opportunity to
compete with other agencies of trans
portation, has struck responsive chord
in the press.
The st. Louis Globe Democrat says
there is "a measure of justice" in the
demands of the railroads that they be
given the same OPPORTUNITIES in man&
agerial and operative freedom that are
accorded other forms of transportation.
Regulations surrounding the activities
of one agency of transportation, ac-
cording to The Globe-Democrat. should
not be different from the regulations
directing the service Of the others. II
we went too far in imposing regulatory
restrictions on the railroads at a time
when some form of regulation was
found necessary, or If need Tor severity
has passed" declares this paper, the
regulations should be modified to fit the
times and to balance lesser restrictions
that have been placed upon Transports
tion competitors Of the railroads.
But equality of opportunity
should be a commanding rule OF the
contest If railroads are suffering from
discriminative regulations to the bene-
fit of other transportation agencies,
rail restrictions should be toned down
or competitor restrictions toned up
One or the other. The handlcapS
should balance"
The Lincoln State Journal says:
Possibly we have reached the point
where a change of policy is indicated
and where, within reasonable BOUNDS,
the rights Of patrons and public always
being considered, more freedom OF
action should be accorded those who
must manage the railroads. Declaring
that mo domestic problem is OF greater
Importance to the people OF the United
States than the question of the future
of the American railroads" the Ashe-
Vile Citizen asserts: UNLESS the rail-
roads can make money, Government
ownership is only matter OF time
Under Government ownership the car
riers would cease to be taxpayers to
cities. counties and States. 1t Is not
likely that they would help TO support
the Federal Government; 1t is more
probable they would become a burden
i1non the Federal Treasury. Our ex-
nerience in other matters does not sug-
gest that Government ownership would
result in either a reduction in costs or
in the betterment of the service rem
"The railways" according to the In
dianapolis Star, "are certain to see
better DAYS. and should not be lnduly
hampered in speeding the return to
normalcy 1t is to the interest Of every
user of transportation, and that means
each citizen, and to every one who has
insurance. a savings account or rail-
way securities, to see that the railroads
are given a fair chance to come back
with the revival of business"
Holding that the appeal of the AsSo-
citation of Railway Executives, will
meet with a much more sympathetic
response from the people than would
have been the case in the past" the
Louisville Herald-PoSt declares: Most
of the thinking citizens realize that the
railroads are public servants, not to be
starved to death. but to be encouraged
and treated with fairness, if they are
to be made useful and helpful to the
community at large. Whatever IS nec-
essary to restore prosperity to the rail-
roads should be the objective of all
elements Of the American people" The