The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-11
HARDING FAVORS
An ADVANCE IN
RA|LROADRATES
Senator elect from Ohio ais
Advocates Interstate Con-
troll of Railroads.

NEW YORK, Dec, i1-Warren G..
Harding, United States senator-elect
from Ohio, in an address before the
Railway Business Association at its
annual dinner here last night favored
Interstate control for the entire
railroad service and an Immediate
general rate advance to save the
crash Of the temple OF Transports
ton"
He said
The argument has never appealed
to Inc that we ought to prosper our
railroads for the SPECIFIC purpose of
promoting general prosperity. 1t
seems to me more important to pros
per our transportation lines as u
simple matter OF fairness and justice
to this most important single agency
In our modern lives
believe that the day of plum
'defing financing has passed. 1
should like to proclaim in the same
breath, the passing OF railroad-bait-
ing less inspired by public good than
by personal profits and political gain.
tnler the railroads.
The drift Is toward the sober,
second thought. There has been an
excess Of commissioning. The best
railroad knowledge In all tie land
ought to light the way. Public SER
vice ought to lbe the impelling pur-
pose. unheeding public clamor.
II believe 1t Is the opinion of
ninety-nine Of every hundred think
ing people that the railways of the
country are entitled to an increase
Of rates. and would gladly see 1t
granted.
Under our present system OF re-
duced and insufficient earning, and
with increased cost of operation,
there are no marked railway better
nients except In the high tide OF
earnings when cost is highest and
improvements are hampered by traffic
operation. We ought to reverse this
order and provide an ample earning
in good times to enable extensive
betterment to be made in the dull
period. This would tend to better
service in the days OF the revival.
Meanwhile the expenditure for bet
terments would relieve the general
dullness amid such conditions as we
complain Of today.
Through agitation and restric-
ton, there has been impaired credit.
until there is threatening collapse
OF the railroad edifice. These items
of maintenance and betterment have
been overlooked by the political ex-
horters
tsperhaps the lack of successful
regulation Ii due to the newness OF
the undertaking, to the unavoidable
polit teal agitation and to the harass-
ment of conflicting authority because
of varied state legislation and state
commissions. We ought to put the
entire railway service under inter-
state control. Such policy would
have millions in public expense and
put us on broad plane. The law
making industry Is too often work
ing overtime. The outcry needs to-
day less legislative bills pending and
more railroad bills Of lading.
at is apparent that the Interstate
Commerce Commission believes In
the pressing necessity for increased
earnings, but opposes the short and
direct route. The rate increase would
be direct and immediate. Other re-
medal efforts could be left to follow
the slower process of evolved adop-
tion. II the combined income from
increased rates and added service
charges made excessive earnings,
contrary to public policy. the same
authority which grants the increase
could order a reduction.
"A general rate advance will not
bring the completed revival Of Amer
lean activity. but 1t will save the
crash of the temple OF transportation,
establish railway credit, and lead to
that physical rehabilitation which Is
of prime Importance in ministering
to greater American activities"