The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-11
Nr. iInrIing's New Note,

Warren q. HARDING United States Sem
ator-elert from ono, struck new
note i'm III argument for higher
freight rates for the railroads whca
he said that this country ought not to AID
the railroads solely for The purpose of
promoting general prosperity, but that the
aid should Dee given as simple matter OF
justice.
81 believe that the day OF plundering
financing has passed" said Mr.. Harding.
81 should lik, to proclaim in the same
breath the passing Of railroad batting,
less inspired by public good than by per-
sonal profits and political gain. II has
been great thing TO hammer the rail
roads. There has been an excess Of COM
mssionng, but the drift H. now toward
the sober second thought Public service
ought to he the impell!ng purpose, un-
needing hubble clamor. believe that II
is the opinion Of ninety-nine OF every
hundred thinking people that the railways
Of the country are entitled 10 AN increase
In rates and would gladly see 1t granted
"tnder our present system OF reduced
and insufficient earning and with in
creased cost of operation there are no
marked railway bettermeuts except In the
high tide of earnings, when cost is high
est and improvements are hampered by
traffic operations We ought to reverse
this order and provide an ample earning
in good times to enable extensive better
menfS 10 ne made IN the dull period, TINS
would tend TO better service in the days
Of the revival. Meanwhile the expendl-
ture for heltermcnts would relieve the
general duness amid such conditions as
we complain Of to-day.
sour American wage scale is twice to
thrice that of Europe. our rates OF in
terest are generally higher. our distances
are greater and our population less dense
II would be natural for our railway trans
uortaton TO be higher our freight rates
are notably less, and our passenger rates
only triile higher and the service vastly
superior Yet on this very branch uf
business which costs the more in this
country the commission recommends the
increase which 1t is powerless TO grant.
"A general rate advance will not bring
the complete revival OF American activity,
hut Il will save the crash of the temple
~ transportation, establish railway credit.
and lead to that physical rehabilitation
which is Of prime Importance in mint stcr-
ing to greater American activities. Coy
crnmen'al assistance In the hour of need
will be ne" assurance that it is not the
function or the purpose of government to
destroy. but to foster and protect"
A. the guest table were Samuel Rea,
president of the heuusN lVauia Railroad ;
Ralph Peters. president of the Long Island
railroad, Jacob NJ Dickinson, ex- Secre-
tary Of War, Lucius T.. johnson. presi-
dent OF the Norfolk and Western Raj.
way, i. II. Underwood president of the
Erie, and Walker D. Hines, chairman of
The executive committee Of the Santa Fe
Others present We're. Edward T. Mccall
chairman Of the Public Service Commits
sion; w A. Marble, president OF the Mer.
chants Association; John Claim, Frank
Trumbull, chairman Of the board of d. q,
rcctors Of the Chesapeake and Ohio; Sam
ucl O, Dunn, II W, T.. Donges, president
~ the New Jersey BOARD of Public
Utility Commissioners, John H. Fahey.
president Of the United States Chamber
Of Commerce w T.. Scoheld of the Com
mon Pleas Court. Marion, Ohio, and Ivy
l.. Lee OF the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad