The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1911-01-13
R. R. RATES
ARE AMPLE
ATTORNEY BRANDIES OPENS AR.
GUMENT AGAINST INCREASED
RATES
need GOOD MANAGEMENT

Washington, Jan. 12.-"We contend
that rates are ample, but that the ex-
pense of operation is excessive, that
wages are not too high, but that, as
the management is unscientif1c, labor,
material, equipment and plant fail
to give adequate results We plead
for the introduction of scientific man
agement, under which the railroads
shall get 100 cents for every dollar
expended
In opening his arguments for the
shippers of the Atlantic seaboard be-
fore the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, Louis D. Brandeis, of Boston,
thus presented the fundamental rea-
son, in his mind, why freight rates
should not be advanced as proposed
by the railways.
Mr.. Brandeis declared that no rail-
way company operating in official
classification territory had introduced
into any of it's departments the prin-
ciples of scientific management He
believed that these principles were
properly as applicable to railroads as
to any other industrial enterprise.
If there were cooperation among
the roads the highest measure of eff
cheney could be obtained and the saw
ing of 8 per cent of the aggregate
cost, or even far more than per cent
readily could be obtained, he said
Cooperation also, in Mr.. Brandeis'
opinion, would secure reductions in
the cost Of steel rails, in the price Of
ing could be made. He suggested,
however, that no effort was being
made by the railroads to obtain a
reduction of the prices of steel rails
because of the financial connections
of railroad officials with the four great
steel companies which manufacture
the rails.
.'The economies which would result
if all the railroads in the Unite
States introduced scientific manage
ment has been estimated at not less
than a million dollars day." said
reducing the present operating cost
OF the railroads an average of 20 per
cent
Mr.. Brandeis then presented figures
tc indicate that this estimate was
moderate. A saving of 20 per cent il
official classification territory alone
would amount to approximately $500,
600 day, or $1S9, 100000 a year;
while the proposed advances would
yield only $27,OO0,OOO a year.
Mr. Brandeis indicated the various
ways by which, in his opinion, the
saving of $1,0O0,O00 a day to the
American railroads could be effected
Some of the savings could be made
III OQu1pIuOAI -C1dI StSs III Lie OpCA q
ton of machine and repair shops; in
planning before performing; in the
standardizing of methods. material
and equipment in keeping accurate
records of industrial performance
and in the paying of adequate re
wards for individual accomplishments
He believed that saving of $4,000.
900 a year could be made in the one
item of coal, his argument being thai
there was enormous waste in fuel or
practically all lines.
In his belief, the terminal problem
was the greatest problem of transpor
tation now confronting the railroads
He believed that at least 33 per cen
in the present terminal charges nov
aggregating s300,oO0,O0 year, coult
be saved through scientific manage
ment. Such management would re
duce delays In the handling of ship
nents and, aside from a reduction o
the direct cost, would be of enormous
benefit to both railways and shippers
"There is no department Of railroad
ing in which the field Of econom!