Page:The truth about the railroads (IA truthaboutrailro00elli).pdf/59

to existing properties, and for the building of new ones. In the present state of politics in this country, such a plan is almost terrifying in its possibilities, because the Government has not shown that it can do work of this character as efficiently and economically as private individuals can. Government ownership, management, and development of the railways would become a matter for the politicians to trade upon. Just recently, in Austria, there has been considerable discussion because the railways were taken over by the state on the theory that better service and lower rates would be given to the public. Now there is agitation to put them back into private hands, for, instead of proving profitable, there is a heavy annual deficit, which the general tax-payer has to make up. The service has deteriorated and railway-expansion has ceased. Or he can continue the present system of rigid governmental control and supervision, and interference with the judgment and management of the owner, which is rapidly having a deadening and discouraging effect on the