The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-06
16RlAAI IEL.W WAY EFFICIENC c '

Dr. Lyman Abbott, i'll editorial in recent edition of
the OnHo0h saws that The railways to-day under the
dominant influence Of four great forces which, unfortunately
are conflicting orcesthe owners the customers the or
ganlzed laborers and the officers the government The
question that deeper than is how harmonic these
tour forces and make them work in co-opera ton for the
common welfare and progress of the country In this con-
nection Daniel Willard president of the Baltimore and Ohio
railway says this object will be brought about when all the
interested parties ready and willing accept the truth
and then accordingly This sound doctrine And bv
alI means let get the truth.
he public ought understand that the doctrine of eff
ciency not like prescription which can be put up in
concrete form and taken in specified doses Even it is
true that the railways instead Of increasing rates. ut
matcly reduce them by applying modern methods of cen
tic management they have obstacles to face
time and organized labor. Mr. Hines chairman of the
Board OF Directors of the Santa Fe in letter to the out
Took deals with this broad question: which seriously affects
not only the Chesapeake and Ohio but every shipper pas
seneer and prospective we'll as every one living
along the lines Of this road
Mr. Hines says: 1t has been shown that the railroads
are fully to if ahead Of the average ability and proba
bly, ahead OF what they years ago. 4 have no
tear that an impartial investigation will show higher
average the Of railways whole than on the part
ol other industries a WHOLE
since 1t is OF the highest Importance the public that
the railways should have sufficient protect their
credit 1t would be unreasonable and contrary the pucs
interest for the public take the position that it will
obstruc the protection railway credit because the rail
ways have attained ideal standard of efficiency far
beyond that attained by the general average of other we'll
managed industries.
Again, the supporters of the theories Of thos, who
claimed that there lack Of scientific economy in the
OF the railway properties must understand that
IN order tor those theories prevail existing industrial meth
DDS must be revolutionized Such revolution in single
shop matter OF time and throughout extended in
dstry W practicable alb would be matter of years or
decades.
The question OF protecting the credit of the railways
matter Of to-day
1t is thing the country needs to-day It cannot be
postponed indefinitely await the an industrial
revolution even that assured but demands
favorable attention according the general conditions
and standards which now prevail
characteristic feature Of the theories of these experts
is the stimulation of the individual aloorers effort through
bonus system The feature is obnoxious to union labor
One railway company attempted put this bonus system
into effect its locomotives but the Brotherhood of Loco
motive Engineers Of the intelligent labor unions
lin the protested effectively that the attempt was
abandoned The principles of union labor must be radically
Changed before it will cooperate putting any such theories
into general effect 1t is impossible to predict when this
oosace the accomplishment of these theories will he re-
moved if
A discussion and investigation which tend to Stimulate
Interest increase of industrial efficiency arc TO he wei
Iconed because any such will help to improve all
enterprises the best managed whether railway or
railway and it to be hoped will influence union labor to
lcoopeate heartily the realization greater efficiency
But the needs OF to-day await the future WORKING
out of these probens and the immediate STRENGTHENING Of
railway credit through permitting the railways to obtain
additional revenue is emphaticay need of to-day"