Salt Lake Telegram | 1934-06-30 | Page 2 | U. S. Railroad Rule Opposed

II UIt S. S RAILROAD RULE OPPOSED Federal Ownership Would Result Re Re- suit sult In Graft Craft Says Traffic Chief TROUTDALE Colo Cob June 30 JO JP- JP Government control of railroads railroad would create a powerful political machine machine ma mat chine afford lford opportunities for graft raft and corruption and withdraw an important important im im- im tax ta source Harold W. W Roe president of the Associated Traffic Clubs of ot America asserted today before before be be- fore a meeting of the central western shippers' shippers advisory board Government ownership has been beene much alive public issue e a very by C r ator Joseph B B. Eastman's pronouncement ment in his first report that theoretically and logically logical government gov gov- ownership is the best cure curc rail carriers carriers car car- for ills that now beset our said Roe who is traffic manager man man- ager of or the Petroleum corporation of Tulsa Okla advanced One of ot the arguments against government own ownership when it it- was discussed many years ago was as that the party in power at the time of oC purchase would pave have the right to appoint the vast arm army of ot teen estimated at persons tenth one-tenth of the voting population of the country which with a sure increase in increase in in- crease of numbers and wages waites would give nive it such an advantage ad e that it would be next to impossible to remove remove remove re re- re- re move it from power without revolution revolution tion and the opportunities for graft gratt and corruption would be almost without limit Perhaps this argument particularly particularly as it refers to continuing the political party in power would seem seema a little overdrawn at the present time conditions but itle it and under present holds good le seems ms' ms to me that it still We Te all know that in any government government govern govern- ment project there is more reckless expenditure and nd dishonesty than in private business and that in spite of any safeguards we might erect forthe forthe for forthe the ownership and control by the we could reasonably expect the usual of inefficiency couples with n H nearly every every form ot of graft and dishonesty dishonesty dishonesty dis dis- dis- dis honesty that such a tremendous un undertaking un un- would permit He said government ownership would place additional burdens on taxpayers because it would withdraw railroad property from taxation and assessments would be made against taxpayers to make up any deficiencies that might occur rin in operations of the roads