Norwich bulletin., 1911-01-03
PARAMOUNT NEEDS TODAY
 OF AMERICAN RAILWAYS
Brief Filed With Interstate Commerce Commission by Counsel Brandeis.

Washington, Jan. 2.-Higher stand ards of efficiency not increased freight charges, are the paramount needs to- day of American railways. This prop osition is the essence of the brief filed today with the interstate commerce commission by Louis ID. BrandeiS, of Boston, counsel for the traffic commit tee of commercial organizations of the Atlantic sea aboard, in the investigation by the commission of the proposed ad vances in freight rates by carriers in official classification territory-that part of the country east of the Mis- sissippi and north of the Ohio and Potomac rivers.
 Railroad managers, MT. Brandeis contends, in an effort to meet exist ing needs, should not look without, but within.
 If the net income is insufficient he says, the proper remedy is not high CT rates, resulting in higher costs and leSsened business, but scientific man. agement, resulting in lower costs, in higher wages and increased business. If their credit is impaired, the proper remedy is not to apply the delusive stimulant of higher rates but to strengthen their organizations by in- troducing advanced methods and elim- mating questionable practices Thus they will maintain credit by deserving it.
 As an alternative to the railroads practice of combining to increase rates" suggested MT. Brandeis, i've offer cooperation to reduce costs. In stead of dangerous makeshift we of fer a constructive policy-scientific management, under which. as costs fall wages rise"
 The consumer, he points out, should beware of the vicious circle of ever increasing freight rates and ever-in- creasing cost of living"
 The Ia r,1o ha hr1r6pn nf prnOf of the reasonabfeness of the proposed advances upon the railroads. MT. Brandeis maintains that the roads have failed utterly to sustain their burden of proof; have failed so com pletely that the application of the railroads for approval of the new tar if should be denied"
 In a discussion of scientific man. agement," it is maintained that the contention of the railways that the possibilities of economy in railroad ding have been practically exhausted is contrary to all human experience in other lines of activity. Advances in the art of transportation have been relatively few, and some of those have been forced by law against strenuous opposition.
 It is indicated that scinetific. man. agement demands the separation of planning from performing; changes the relations of the management to labor; demands preparedness, analyti- cal study, records of industrial per formance and standardized methods an equipment. It increases the eff ciency of the individual of the plant and equipment and of material. It also increases the emoluments of both capital and labor It eliminates graft, too, in the opinion of MT. Brandeis, in the purchase of supplies and in the cost of construction work. Publicity he argues, is an essential condition of freedom from graft
 It is maintained, in the conclusion of this part of the brief, that "at least S1,000,000 a day could be saved by the pursuit of methods of scientific man. agement'' of American railroads.
 As to the argument of the railroads that they need additional revenues on account of required increases in wages Mir. Brandeis submits three proposi- tions:
 'F'irst-Some railroads, at least, do not need additional income.
 'Second-In some railroads any ex- isting need of additional income is due to causes other than wage in creases or acts of congress.
 'Third-Every railroad which is properly undertaken and financed can meet any existing needs without rate increases, through the introduction of scientific management