The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-08-07
AMERICAN RAILROAD
MEN MOST EFFICIENT.
Annual Report Shows Marked Pro-
gress in twenty-five Years
Rated According to Units
POPULAR GOVERNMENT IS ISSUE
Will Be Next Matter Of Importance
Before Congress-Extra Session
May Be Balled by President.

By Congressman c. II. Tavenner
Washington, August 7.-American
railroad employees are declared to be
the most efficient in the world. The
recent annual reports of the rail-
roads to the Interstate Commerce
ca Commission show remarkable in
crease in the efficiency if railroad
employees in the last rs years. Com
parative figures with European rail-
roads are lacking, but there seems
little doubt that the efficiency of
American railroad men has increased
with that of the employees of Uncle
Sans post office. Representative
David l.. Lewis, of Maryland, has
shown by the postal statistics of the
world that the efficiency of foreign
postal employees does not compare
with that Of the employees of Uncle
lers, and there is reason to believe
carried to the railroad employees also.
Analysts have been going over the
railroad figures and showing some
remarkable facts. Not only has the
productive efficiency Of American
railroad labor increased enormously,
but there is a reason to believe that
future.
Railroad efficiency is rated accord
ing to transportation "units,'' which
means in case of freight ton trans
ported one mile, or in the case Of
passengers, per passen ger carried
mile
railroads for each 1000 traffic units
was Sc cents; last year it was 50
centsIn other words, it cost the rail-
roads ~ cents less for wages of
engineers and fiiremen to carry 1000
passengers one mile, or 1000 tons
Of freight one mile, than it did in
in 1913 were far higher than those
Of 1890 The cheapened cost was
lue to the increased efficiency of the
employees.
Such figures run all through the
various classes of employees and on
all American railroads. Larger
nrir
greater loads added to increased
skill on the part OF the employees have
brought about efficiency that no
other country on earth can meet
Popular Government Next Issue.
The next great issue before Con-
gress willIbe the qu<tion of popular
government enforced by federal laws,
according to all the indications now.
And it would not be surprising if
President Wilson called an extra
session of Congress after March 4 OF
next year to adopt a series of law
guaranteeing popular government.
The amazing record of the present
Democratic Congress will probably
not be allowed to stand alone by
President Wilson. The present Con-
gress has settled nearly every politi-
cal issue that has been before the
country for the past 6 years. Tariff,
currency, trusts, Alaskan develop
ment, income tax, and probably COLI.
servation-this will be the history of
the country.
1t is known that a legislative sub
ject near to President Wilson's heart
is the question Of direct presidential
primaries Mr.. '. ilson urged this
legislation upon the present session
of Congress but there was not time
to take it up. However, various con-
gressional committees; have been
studying the problem, and they will
probably be ready to report ont bills
at next winters session. -
Consequently the signs point to l.
popular government fight in Wash
rgton next winter. But the session
which begins in December will be
short session, expiring by law on
March 3rd 1915. There will hardly
be time to- pass the appropriation
bills and adopt popular government
measures also. The fight will
probably be- started then. The
President is likely to ask the new
Congress to continue the work i'm
mediately, SO that the laws may be