The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-11-21
WASHINGTON. Nov. ei.-Louis d

0nuels. attorney OF boston, began
- attack upon American railroad
tes before the Interstate commerce
mmission today. His position to-
1rd the railroads il this:
Elbow US you are operating your
nes ~ economically as possible. Civ.
~ the best possible service, before
IA raise your freight rates.
Brandeis will endeavor TO persuade
~ interstate commerce commission
y take that position. He has wit
epses, the best efficiency experts In
mGrica, to testify that railroads TO-
~ are wasting annually $500, 1000 900
/monr1y $1.000.000 per day-nearly
hree times the total annual gold pro-
uc<f0n OF the United States) every
enny OF which Is contributed by the
oopie.
& II Is an attack from a new quarter.
No. unexpected by the railroad presi-
ents as II Is unwelcome.
DEandeis claims railroad waste OF
o0ey Is fiagrant: that once the roads
approached efficiency. but that was in
|4e days of competition. when parallel
lnos cut rates against them. and they
I'D 70 keep their operating organiza-
|&loo on Its toes or fail.
n Fcr ten years there has been no
Exoo1 competition. Road management
~ 6osAe to seed IN that time. Others
<{Compettng) corporations, have avail.
"a themselves OF new discoveries In
|foconomical management. The mon
|oDoltstic railroads are still clinging to
ne obsolete, wasteful methods of
byBone generation.
M In the commissions hearing room
Today are dozen OF the country's
@ofem0st representatives OF that new
1ctence-business engineering. Among
Them are Harrington Emerson, whose
book on Efficiency" is the standard
~ America, and H. l.. CAN'T. whose
1ook, Works. Wages and Profits" Is
ne epitOme of the new efficiency doc.
xxine.
These men are here to bear out
rande1e charge OF railroad waste.
hey will point out TO the railroad
Sosidenfs at the hearing just where
10 nancy Is being wasted There
Te no specific charges OF graft made.
houeh. the hoped-for investigation of
1ilr04d business methods Brandels
- asking for NAV reveal wholesale
xr1ft. tust as such an investigation
0id recently In an Illinois railroad.
Opposed to these experts are such
mon a. President McCrea OF the Penn
DylvAnfa railroad. who. at the hearings
y month ago before the recess. denied
hat his UT other railroads are inef-
cient His opinion. he testified, rest.
u entirely upon his faith in his organ
alton. He confessed he had M
cnnite way of knowing whether his
gEanisation IL honest and eficient
The rate hearings, we're resumed
o6ay safter months recess. The
ootern and central railroads are ask
Ing permission 10 raise rates. Those
oSo the same raises whose publication
1o1t spring created such public com.
notion. They were stopped by an In.
1onction In st. Louis after which the
Z ouoGGrn presidents In q conference
s Nth TAFT, agreed not 60 put the raises
Into erect until the commerce com
X mioo1oA sbould pass upon the merits
4 rsf tho-case. Brandeis Is attorney for
y Tie EASTERN shippers association, con.
! TESTING ne raises.
The railroads put In their case be.
{0f9 ~ recess. They presented the
u1unl reasons for rate raises-in
crsaSod expenses, largely due TO the
uencf&l Increases IN wages granted
rnilwty employees last April
The railroads. revealed their oper
{ ating expenses 90 show the necessity
FOR rnte raises. Brandeis has depart
"a from Custom by not contesting the
3 arures. Ne takes them as bona fde
hut n -frylnG 70 point out by these
+ nsfne 6eures that the roads are vast
. spe the money they squeeze from thu
pcople b. high rates. He has the ex
perts here 20 help him.
lncfsssed efficiency, and It's conse
. qusnt saving OF money. does not NEAR
& 1o2er wages or Increased work To
omploys<, Brandsfs asserts. On th'
contrary. under perfect efhcfency
>~aees woufd % much higher. worl
. vouId be no harder tbut directed more
F 1nfoIlteently). and. with the saving o
~ e10c ZOO 900 now wasted. ther,
&ou14zbo tremendous cuts in freight
f m pnGeenger rates.
4 TX railroads are not getting dol
Nh 0Of{h Of work for each dollar
1I1 ct " them, but thfs Is not the
~ u uAe workers u II the faclt
- bDroDer tools tbey have TO
4EL 'ths improper materials
- - the lack Of systens in
- rDCUGn1e1ons Of tools and
y - $4,000 - na.aOs-