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Editorial
July 15, 1919
Albuquerque Morning Journal
Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico
What is this article about?
Editorial criticizes U.S. government inefficiency in managing railroads, telegraph, and telephone services post-World War I, arguing for return to private control due to poor service, high costs, and congestion under federal administration led by figures like Burleson.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
WEARY OF GOVERNMENT CONTROL.
As the months pass it becomes more and more apparent that the government is not a good manager, not an efficient director of what heretofore has been regarded as private enterprises.
When the railroads and telegraph and telephone companies were taken over as a war measure, many of us believed they never would be turned back to private control. In fact the belief was general that the telegraph and telephone naturally belonged to the postoffice department, and that such messages should be sent under the same authority as letters and post cards.
But with the passing of the months of government operation, the public is more and more convinced that the government is not a good administrator of anything which requires business ability to give it proper direction.
Since the war closed the railroads have been running more and more behind in the efforts of the administration to make ends meet and the public has been enduring higher and higher passenger and freight tariffs, and poorer and poorer service from the carriers.
There never was a time in the history of the nation when transportation was so utterly demoralized as now. Freight moves exasperatingly slow, and the charges for it are appallingly high. Every sleeper, every day coach is overcrowded with passengers, because in the interest of economy many trains have been taken off on every system of the country, and the trains run slower than formerly. Thus, there are two causes for congestion.
As to the telegraph and telephone services, no comment is required. Every person who has to come in contact with them know what they have been during government operation. Allegedly they are free from Burleson's grasp now, but in reality they are still in his control. They can make no changes in their business of expenditures, except with his consent. He turned them loose in name only.
Every person in the United States except those who immediately profit from the lax methods of Uncle Sam in handling business, is disgusted with the results of the experiment.
As the months pass it becomes more and more apparent that the government is not a good manager, not an efficient director of what heretofore has been regarded as private enterprises.
When the railroads and telegraph and telephone companies were taken over as a war measure, many of us believed they never would be turned back to private control. In fact the belief was general that the telegraph and telephone naturally belonged to the postoffice department, and that such messages should be sent under the same authority as letters and post cards.
But with the passing of the months of government operation, the public is more and more convinced that the government is not a good administrator of anything which requires business ability to give it proper direction.
Since the war closed the railroads have been running more and more behind in the efforts of the administration to make ends meet and the public has been enduring higher and higher passenger and freight tariffs, and poorer and poorer service from the carriers.
There never was a time in the history of the nation when transportation was so utterly demoralized as now. Freight moves exasperatingly slow, and the charges for it are appallingly high. Every sleeper, every day coach is overcrowded with passengers, because in the interest of economy many trains have been taken off on every system of the country, and the trains run slower than formerly. Thus, there are two causes for congestion.
As to the telegraph and telephone services, no comment is required. Every person who has to come in contact with them know what they have been during government operation. Allegedly they are free from Burleson's grasp now, but in reality they are still in his control. They can make no changes in their business of expenditures, except with his consent. He turned them loose in name only.
Every person in the United States except those who immediately profit from the lax methods of Uncle Sam in handling business, is disgusted with the results of the experiment.
What sub-type of article is it?
Economic Policy
Infrastructure
What keywords are associated?
Government Control
Railroads
Telegraph
Telephone
Inefficiency
Post War
Private Enterprise
Burleson
What entities or persons were involved?
Government
Burleson
Uncle Sam
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Inefficiency Of Government Control Over Railroads And Communications
Stance / Tone
Strongly Critical Of Government Management Favoring Private Control
Key Figures
Government
Burleson
Uncle Sam
Key Arguments
Government Lacks Business Ability To Manage Private Enterprises Efficiently.
Public Initially Thought Telegraph And Telephone Suited For Post Office But Now Disagrees.
Railroads Operate At A Loss With Higher Tariffs And Poorer Service Post War.
Transportation Is Demoralized With Slow Freight, High Charges, And Overcrowded Passenger Trains.
Trains Reduced And Slowed For Economy, Causing Congestion.
Telegraph And Telephone Services Remain Poor Despite Nominal Return To Private Control Under Burleson's Influence.
Most Americans Are Disgusted With Government Business Handling Except Profiteers.