The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1910-12-04
THE RAILROAD PROBLEM.


The following very sound state
ment is from the manufacturers
Record. and # handles splendidiy a
most complex question:
THE railroads want an increase in
freight rates in order to meet the de-
nands that come of increasing ex-
'enses. Tho shippers suggest that
the roads should seek increased rev.
pnues by decreasing expenses such
8 the issue pending before the inter-
state commerce commission. At the
heting OF the American Federation
81 Labor in St. Louis, members were
nsured for peti,ioning the commits
i0E 10 PERM; their employers 10
lcreasc rates The federation rem
~ .or The railroad dilemma is TO
llcczc the water ont Of the railroad
,ockg.
so ere We have q problem that
weighted down with completely.
Dd IL win require wisdom. patience,
Justice. and courage 10 solve IL. II
Is easy enough TO talk atout squeez-
a. water out oe railroad stocks. but
"ow Is It going to ne accomplishment
Inaation is easy enough 20 prevent.
Texas has shown tlat, fiit after Sos
cariti6s have been legally issued and
sold TO ule public. In good faith,
II Is difficult TO see how values are
10 he annihilated by legislative de-
cree
The railroads are not owned BY
few millionaires. as many people
thins-Thcy have been built, for tfla
most part by the money OF the .pec,l
ple-men, women ana children or
moderate means-own multiplied mil
lions of me stocks. Trust funds. es-
tates. life insurance companies and
indiiduavls of small fortunes absorb.
much of the capital inesyted in rail-
roads. To arbitrarily impair their
holding would precipitate crisis
that would be anything but benefi-
cia Moreover. it is doubtful If So,
curities legally issued could lie legal
ly annihilated SO that is the diff
Guilty OF applying the remedy offered
by t'he federation.
1.-The remedy suggested by the
shippers-the reduction of expenses
would be attended with quail diff
Guilty The shippers always demand
better facilities and better facilities
REQUIRE vest outlaws of money, which
railroads have obtained either in the
usual way from the pul lie, or from
such sums as they have been able to
earn above their expenses. Along
with the shippers demand for. better
facilities comes the ever present de-
mand of the employees for better
wages, and wages have been realty
increased during the past ten years
If the railroads undertake to de-
crease expenses by reducing wages,
trouble with their employees is inevi.
table. II they improve the facilities
without reducing wages. then they
must get money from the public and
the public viii not invest the mon
/ cy II roads are to be revalued and
the alleged water squeezed out OF
their stocks.
1t is a hard problem at TEST. We
SUPPOSE 1t is possible to curtml some
of the expenses incident to the oper-
alton Of railroads. Perhaps a more
rational tariff policy would reduce
the cost of rails and other materials
nece ssary to railroad construction az
mployement. But after all, we mus
recognize Gsat the HIGHER levels OF
cost which affect every line OF husi-
-~e9 $50 affect railroad operation
and trat the roads must get their rev
huo from FREIGHT and passenger
earnings, and they must obtain suf
| fc'cnt revenues to Operate their
rr~~"rties as the shippers and tie
public demand and pay their fixed
ed charges and operating expenses