The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-05-26
rAvoRs FEDERAL CONTROL.

T Il -
bash railroad, in an address before
the Traffic club in Chicago on We'd
nesday, expressed views widely at
variance with the usual public utter
ances of prominent railway men. One
of the statements with which he sur
prised his auditors was to the effect
that he regarded the recent refusal OF
the interstate commerce commission
to permit general advances in freight
rates a blessing in disguise. He also
gave it as his sincere belief that the
| Interstate commerce law has been OF
real benefit to the capital invested in
railway property and that every
change and amendment in the law has
proved beneficial to honest railway
methods. He conceded that the power
of the commission has been greatly
Increased. but said that the inevitable
result of that increased authority has
been an increased responsibility. The
gist OF his address on these points is
contained in the appended paragraphs:
/ THE most recent occurrence which
has taken place, and perhaps the most
serious appointment the railways
have had, mas been the refusal OF the
interstate commerce commission TO
grant a general advance in rates. And
vet i am inclined to think that this
refusal really is a blessing in disguise.
Gross results to be expected from
that advance were greatly exaggerated
in the public mind, and If We had been
granted all that was asked for, or even
half what was asked for. cne demands
of labor for added wages and OF the
public for added service and facilities
would have more than eaten up the
entire gain.
A little more public sympathy, lit
tie more consideration from the gen
eral public for the difficulties which
railways have to contend with, is faI
more needed than an increase in rates
II believe railways should receive in
creases in some OF their rates; in 9th
er words, that rate adjustments should
be made by leveling up rather thar
down Either that or the railroads
must do something TO resist the con
stantly increasing cost of wages aRt
materials, for RAILWAYS have suffered a.
much as any single interest b. reason
Of the diminished purchasing powel
of money
In connection with these suggestion
President Delano gave credit TO Loui
Brandeis. who generally is disliked b.
rainoad men because Of his assertion
before the interstate commerce CON
mission that the carriers could saw
huge sums OF money by adopting 81
fciency methods for starting needle
reform In the management of raj
: roads. Mr.. Brandeis' standing as q
efficiency expert has been scoffed q
by railroaders, but President Delan
admitted that he had stated an impo
tant economic fact-namely, that tn
:. proposition that wages of railway en-
ployes should be advanced, that Their
fore rates should he advanced, 30 u
i railroads might still be able TO earn
= fair return on their capitalization
- proposed q deadly cycle which in tn
long run would certainly prove into
cradle And. though efficiency in raj
way operation is no ne1 thing TO il
i telligent railway managers, Mr. Deiar
!, declared that there never vas a tin
s, when managers were studying hard'
ba than now how they may increase the
49, efficiency.
But that there might ne no misu
derstanding as TO his position he vel
no on to say that he believes raiiua,
700 should receive Increases in some
~ their rates; in other words, that "a
, a adjustments should be made by lev,
,si. ing up rather than leveling down,
ote has been done SO often In the pal
the AS to a possible alternative ne sal,
r,h Either that or the railroads mu
ha, DO something TO resist the constant
increasing cost Of wages and mate
iais' Tor railways have suffered