The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-09-24
Roosevelt on Transportation
(Railway Age)

Both the Republican and Demo-
cratic parties are now committed to
the adoption of constructive policies
for the solution of the railroad prob
lem. The Republican party commit
ted itself by the adoption of a sound
plank in its national platform. The
Democratic party has been commit
ted by the speech delivered by Gov
ernor Roosevelt at Salt Lake City on
September II.
Not in years has any public man
discussed the transportation problem
with more intelligence and courage
than did Governor Roosevelt on this
occasion. He showed in his speech
that he appreciates the indispensa-
blllty Of the railroads as means of
transportation, and the necessity.
therefore. of giving them opportu-
nifty to make earnings sufficient to
provide adequate employment at
reasonable wages, to make ADEQUATE
purchases and to pay a fair return
upon the securities that must be is
sued to raise needed capital. He
showed he understands not only that
the financial condition of the rail-
roads has become desperate, but the
reasons for this.
Governor Roosevelt's discussion
plainly implied the necessity of with
drawing all subsidies from carriers by
highway, but did not touch upon the
subsidlzation of carriers by water. He
advocated the regulation of railway
holding companies and it may be in
ferred from his general tenor that he
would increase the regulation Of COM
peting carriers to make it comparable
with that applied to railways, rather
than establish equality of regulation
by greatly reducing or virtually abol-
lshing regulation of railways. It is
not surprising that he is somewhat in
definite as to how much regulation of
railways should be reduced, as there
are differences between railway Off
GERS upon this point; but his advocacy
OF more government encouragement
! and cooperation" and less restriction
and repression" is encouraging. No
| body is objecting to reasonable rcgula-
ton OF railways. The objections be-
ing made to regulation are that, as
! applied by the Interstate Commerce
Commission, it has been too restric-
| tive and repressive, and that it is I'M
fair and destructive of the public well
fare to regulate almost every detail
| of railway management and opera
ton and not apply similar regulation
to competing carriers.
Governor Roosevelts speech will be
read with great interest by owners of
railway securities, railway managers
and railway employees. It will be read
with perhaps more interest by rail-
way employees than by any other class
because most Of them have awakened
to a realization that government poll
cies that are ruinous to the railroads
are also ruinous to them. Recently,
also, the Generalization of markets
for many kinds Of commodities which
subsidized and unregulated truck
transportation has been causing, has
been arousing many producers and
shippers to q realization that it is de-
structive Of their interests. Governor
Roosevelt has shown that his exper-
fence as q politician has given him
unusual skill In appraising public sen.
timent, and the fact that he made
such speech as he did at Salt Lake
City Is an extremely good indication
that 1t will be well received not only
by railway employees, but by other
classes having large voting strength.