Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 February 1919 — Sherman Law Is Out of Business in Reconstruction of Railroads [ARTICLE]

Sherman Law Is Out of Business in Reconstruction of Railroads

By T. P. SHONTS

We must take government control of the railroad aa now in effect as a fact—and let that be our point of departure. And we must agree that the present system of operation has in it certain merits which must never be sacrificed. Most of them, indeed, embody reforms for which railroad officers hase clamored these many years. First and foremost the Sherman law is out of business. It was tossed out of the window by Fairfax Harrison and the railroad war board as soon as war was declared; but President Wilson and Mr. McAdoo chloroformed and embalmed it on the 28th of December, 1917. Let us briefly suggest the other obvious blessings of the present regime: 1. The pooling of equipment and terminals. j 2. The elimination *of unnecessary trains and duplicated servio®. 3. The more economical loading and routing of freight. 4. The unification of passenger ticket offices. 5. The elimination of the frills of the business, such as observation cars for which no adequate fare was paid, etc. 6. The frank recognition of the necessity on the part of government, which adds to the expenses of operation, to find the increased rates and fares with which to pay those expenses. These are great gains, and it is the duty of every railroad man to see to it that they are brought clearly to public attention. We must face the fact very frankly that the decision of this momentous issue is absolutely in the hands of the public. As one with practical railroad experience and as, an observer of government operation throughout the world, I am convinced that the most economical operation can be attained under private ownership. And the gains we have obtained from government operation can all be retained under private ownership.. •