New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-03
Even MIR. Brandeis Now Admits
That the Railroads Have
Reen Starved.

,,,o rr.orstate Commerce Commissions policy oil
starving the railroads into submission must oe !"
q bad way when Louis d. Brandeis washes Dis
hands of it, Mr.. Brandeis was employed Dy '"'
commission as special counsel chiefly lot the pun
nose OF bostering UP with the great weight VI No
authority AS a miracle worker from the outSr'e -
railroad properties the comfortable theory Ina' '"
troubles Of the railroads with shrinking revenues
and mounting expenses are largely imaginary ne
had intimated repeatedly that If he had charge VI
the railroad systems all the cares that Unrest Oil"
tors and stockholders meetings would Io'u 'noh
tents like the Arabs and as silently steal away
The commission was therefore Justlned IN Iel""'
inc him as specialist highly qualihed 10 ueie"i
the theory that the railroads instead OF pein5
starved and famished have been only for heallh
sake little underfed
What has caused Mr.. Brandeis 10 enroll minse"
among the prophets of nationality ana coninlon
sense? In concluding his argument against ra'e III
creases before the commission on Friday he salu
n, IN. whole the net income and net operating
revenues of the railroads in official classification Ter
ritory are smaller than is consistent WIN tneii %
sured prosperity and the welfare OF the community
and This is notably true of the Central Freight Asso
citation and other Eastern lines In view OF ts lact,
II is desirable that steps should be taken as promptly
as reasonably may be to increase this net revenue
the starvation shouters. It is in our opinion no'
very material that Mr. Brandes tried TO square NM
self with the commissions programme of the last
four years by saying that the carriers pan ioi
raising additional revenue through increased freight
rates is not the best possible plan of recuperat1on
Tho commissions adviser still Clings TO the notion
+bot +be cutting off Of concessions hitherto allowed
TO industrial spur lines and other administrative
briu In al
needed. Yet the commission knows as well as MI
prandois docs that such an abolition of favors to
big industrial plants will work very unequaiiy WITH
diAerent railroads Some systems may profit con-
sderably. while others will he very little benefited
Va roaI remedv for the situation which Mr. Brandeis
has himself so graphically described could be found
in 2 makeshift which Would leave the weaker roads
still short of revenue and slowly but surely drift
ing toward bankruptcy.
II is highly desirable that the concessions 10
industrial spur lines and other legazed favors of
similar character should be discontinued STOCK
holders will he benefited by a strcter supervision
Of the relations of the common carriers to big ship
ners Rut tho balance between the roads and the
shining public upset by a long series of govern
mental demands for safer and costlier service. can
he properly restored only by granting the roads
some direct general compensation for the larger
burdens which they have been forced to assume
An increase of freight rates for all would be only
fair-so fair that many large bodies or shippers
are heartily in favor of it. The country wants 10
see rates advanced because it realizes that tie
present situation Is not consistent with the as
sured prosperity of the roads and the welfare OF
the community" The administration is evidently
friendly TO an increase and only the pride of opinion
Of the Interstate Commerce Commission stands IN
its way. That pride ought to yield now that the
chief railroad batter in Eastern territory, now
the commissions hired defender, admits openly that
it, present policy of starvation ought TO 60 by the
hoard