Question: Resolved, That the railroads should be owned and operated by the Federal Government.

Brief for the Affirmative.

W. B. MOULTON and A. H. NEWMAN.Best general references: R. T Ely, in Harper's Mo. Vol. 73, pp. 250, 450, 571 (1886); E. J. James, in Am. Econ. Ass. Pub., II, 246; G. H. Lewis, Nat'l Consolidation of Railways; T. V. Powderly, in Arena, VII, 58 (Dec. 1892); Lalor's Cyclopaedia, III, 493.

I. Railroads should be operated for public interests alone. - (a) Of a public nature. - (1) Economic relations: Harper's Mo., Vol. 73, p. 250, - (2) Legal relation. - (3) Public highways

II. Under private ownership and management public interest is made subservient to private interest. - (a) Railroads carried on for private ends alone. - (1) Paralleling: R. T. Ely, Problems of Today. - (2) Speculation: Hadley, Railroad Transportation, ch. 3. - (b) Neglectful of public welfare. - (1) Poor service. - (2) Accidents. - (3) Discriminations: Hudson. The Railways and the Republic, ch. 2, 3, 4. - (4) "Skinning the Road." - (c) Source of corruption in politics: - T.V. Powderly, Arena, VII, 58.

III. Under a system of government ownership and management alone will the public interest be secure. - (a) Government interference ineffectual. - (1) Interstate Commerce Act. - (2) State Commissions. - (b) Government ownership will give - (1) Economy of administration and construction: J. S. Jeans, Railway Problems, p. 463 - (2) Better service. - (3) Greater safety - (4) Freedom from labor troubles: Arena, VII, 58.

IV. Government ownership is practicable. - (a) Has endorsement of practical railroad men: Lewis, p. 190 - (b) Fair trials in foreign countries have shown its practicability: Lalor III, 502. - (1) Experience of Belgium and Germany: Wm. Larrabee, The Railroad Question, p. 409. - (2) No fair trial in France and Italy: Quar. Jour. Econ., I, 453 (July 1887). - (c) Extension of service would bring about civil service reform.

Brief for the Negative.

E. JAMES and V. H. MAY.Best general references: Hadley's Railroad Transportation; The Railroad and the State in Methods of Social Reform; Compendium of Transportation Theories; Hudson's Railways and the Republic; Kirkwood, Railway Rates and Government Control; Acworth, Railways and the Traders.

I. The functions of a Railroad are to give, - (a) Satisfactory transportation to the public, i.e. - (1) Cheap rates. - (2) Efficient service. - (3) No discrimination. - (b) Fair return on capital invested: J. D. Potts in Railway Review June 4, 1892; Hadley in Scribner's Magazine, IV, 483.

II. Proper private management can and does bring about these results: G. R. Blanchard in Compendium of Transportation Theories, pp. 93, 94.

III. Government management under the most favorable circumstances does not bring about these results. - e.g., Germany; France; Belgium; Italy: Forum XI, p. 79-90; Kirkwood 235, 236, 249, 250, 239-241, 284, 225, 322, 263, 224, 226; Hadley 187-235.

IV. No analogy can be drawn from successful government management of Post Office and Telegraph. - (a) Routine management. - (b) Small fixed capital: Hadley, pp. 254, 255; Jevons Methods of Social Reform, p. 279.

V. The condition of the civil service of the United States would alone render Federal ownership impracticable.