Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-01-05
REGULATE ROADS
WITHOUT STUDY
Writer in Wichita Beacon
Says Politicians
Know Little

taking the count OF the pulse OF plae-
ing his ear at the heart
What would YOU think Of mercan-
tile agency which would attempt TO
fix the financial standing Of bust
ness concern and give II proper rat
Ing. purely from appearances. or ru-
NOR. or prejudice?
What would you think Of a chen,-
list who would unhesltatingly pass
judgment upon a metal from the
mere hearsay OF some man who held
no scientific diploma"
The answer Is OBVIOUS.
And vet some of the politicians OF
the country DO not hesitate &c tell
the people all about the profits OF
the railways. giving mythical figures
that come from imaginative brains.
And the people, usually cautious In
dealing with their own business facts,
accept without question the most fab
ulous statements about railroads.
Probably there are not many people
In the land today who IL asked about
railroad earnings OF last year would
not Immediately yell that earnings
were greater and expenses smaller
than ever before.
And yet the plain facts Of indis-
putable records are, that there was a
decrease in the revenues for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1911. And
there was a great inCrose In operat-
ing expenses.
Fortunately there are reliable sta
tistics upon the subject for these who
wish TO study the net results Of rail
way operation. The bureau Of rail-
way economics shows that the rail-
ways Of the country earned $S2.S7
per mile each day last year In carry
ing freight. passengers, mails and
express. This was 0 cents per mile
per day less than for the ficsa, year
ending June 80, 1910. This would
be for all the railroads $1,000. 000
less in revenues than the previous
fiscal year yielded
Here's the other side:
While revenues were going down
at the rate of ~ cents per mile per
day. operating expenses were going
M 65 cents per mile per day.
The total operating expenses were
s22.5s per mile per day for the past
-x-nar - ---.----. ------~-------
For the fiscal year ending June 30
1910. they were Only s2i.s3 per mile
per day.
The IS cents per mile per day In
crease in salaries. wages, fuel. sup
plies, repairs and renewal OF tracks
bridges. etc. amounts to the enor
nous increase OF s56.0oo.ooo ovel
the previous fiscal year.
The net operating revenues, Which
Il the total operating revenGe less
operating expenses. averaged SiO.21
per mile per day. Taxes increased
and revenue from outside operations
such rs boat and ferry lines. dininl
cars. etc fell off. so that the operat
ing income-wh which Is net operating
revenue with revenue from outside
operations added and taxes deducte'
was 81 cents per mile per day les
than for the previous fiscal year. Thu
amounts 10 n total decrease in oper
o,,nr income of over $4,000. zoe, o.
over onc-fourth of the total amour
of net dividend paid by the railway
for the fiscal year ending June 80
1910.
In view of these iudisputa5le fact
from the Washington bureau Of rail
wov economies. lent u tlTe for
more thouphtful study Of tie rail
road situation
A railroad is governed by just tn
same natural law that governs al
healthy business it must take u
more money than Il pGys ont
The Beacon believes that the nee
essity of rate REIMBURSEMENT 10 tn
most serious problem Of the presen
hour. Rates are too high at som
points. they are dcuotless too low a
other points. Many discrimination
have grown up NHlNh i"n ''"i'"''
ties of their Just commercial cppol
tunities and their natural adyai tage
These determinations cannot he SCI
tied nv sweeping resolutions demand
ing the reduction of all freight an
passenger rates ard the immediate a.
rest and Imprisonment OF all raj
road presidents. These problem
must be settled by intelligent stud!
not by bitter political campaign
The railroad officials will have to az
NIT the right Of states to know an
study facts properly and in the rigl
spIrit. The public will have TO a'
init the right OF railways to reason
able profits. as we'll as their rigl
10 rest their case upon facts In sob'
tribunals and not upon theories
the hasty judgments OF state legi
latures moved by political feeling.
You can't reduce the revenues
n railroad by unfriendly leeislatio
and increase Its operating expense
by the same power without wreckir
Il.
The administrative tribunals whi'
find II popular TO regulate RAILROAD
from n political point OF view oV