The Washington times., 1907-01-07
Representative Norris Crit
ciSeS Way Roads
Are Run.
Finds Repair Work Neglect
ed During Dull Season
of Year.
Men in Real Authority Much
Interested in Stock
Market.

Congressman Norris OF Nebraska did
some investigating on his W. account
during the Congressional recess. into the
car shortage situation IN the West. and
came back to Washington with the
opinion that the cal seat of the trouble
has not been reached by IA Of the in
vestigations and comments.
1T seems 10 me-" said Mr.. Norris.
shat the eminent abilities OF these rail-
road managers have been overrated. !
doubt IL they are greater than other
men. Their business methods inn
press me. 1 am assured for instance
that out in our country the most ordin-
airy rules Of business management are
not followed by the railroad managers.
They have busy seasons and then sea-
sons Of slack business. They know
when the busy time OF year may be ex-
pected. and when the slack. II would
seem that IA the time OF light business
they would repair their plants. nix up
the rOadbed where needed, have cars
and engines put in shape, aid then
when the busy season opened be In
shape 70 move freight at the lowest cost
and IN most expeditions fashion. Wen.
they don't do anything that. They
neglect the maintenance and repair
work when II ought 10 be done. and
then when business is pressing there Is
trouble and inability to care for II. All
that strikes me as wrong.
Railroads Slow.
1T takes q carload OF lumber from
the Pacihc coast four months, on the
average. 10 get 70 a Nebraska dcstina-
tion. Don't believe IL? Wen, it's true
.aam-@EMHn.- mn % EHma~ 49, IN
my district, there is a big concern that
manufactures incubators-makes more
Of them han any other establishment
IA the country. A big Chicago lumber
man told me OF an experience sending
this concern lumber. II ordered a car
load as a sample. and he had II for
warded. 1t took four months for the
delivery TO be made and when the
sample got there the season was past
and the manufacturers told him they
couldn't take any more and refused 10
place further orders. That meant that
an industry was hut out OF its Oppor-
tunity TO do business. Lumbermen as
sured me that II was not an exceptional
case. 1t was Just an average one. I
had an addition TO build to a block in
which I was interested. The contractor
got his lumber I'm ten weeks and was
able 10 begin work; but he explained to
ms that he got It six weeks earlier han
other people could. because being con-
hden OF getting the job he took the
chance OF ordering the dimension ma
terial six weeks before the contract was
let.
MiSmanagement the Cause.
'"The men who actually rIn the rail-
road" proceeded Judge Norris. don't
have any real authority. They can't do
anything. Up at the top there is some
where a man who exercises all the real
authority. and he is fully as much in
terested In the operation OF the stock
market as IN the management of his
freight service. So the freight trains
get overlooked in the busy season, and
we have a car famine on our hands.
Down at the bottom / am convinced
there Is as much mismanagement as
anything else In IT..
"Remedies2 ! ont know. Every man
here has a different idea about the
necessary legislation 10 meet the condi-
u0ns, and that means that We will do
nothing. Of course"