With the railroads in fine condition and doing the greatest volume of business in their history, the government took charge and has pretty nearly wrecked the railroad business of the country. Freight and passenger charges were increased to the limit, wages and salaries increased, and, with a greater volume of business than the railroads had ever had and with higher freight and passenger rates the people of the United States are required to dig up $760,000,000 to keep the railroads out of bankruptcy. In the meantime the service, the rolling stock and the roads have been allowed to go backward. Today one pays more for inferior service than under the management of the railroad owners, and yet the railroads are losing money at an alarming rate.

The government took over control at the telephone and telegraph systems, raised the rates, increased salaries and the patrons' inferior service. Before government control a day message or night letter could be sent for 26 cents where the rate now charged is 35 cents. The rate was increased from 25 to 30 cents when the government took charge and on April 1 an additional charge of five cents was added to a 25 cent message, making it 36 cents, or a 40 percent increase over the rates charged under private ownership and control. 