Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-30
WILLIAMS PUTS BLAME
On SHOULDERS OF I,AHOR

BALTIMORE. MD. March 2a--R.
Lancaster Williams, president OF the
Georgia and Florida Railway, issued
the following statement to day:
II regret extremely II has finally
been necessary for the Georgia and
Florida Railway to seek the protection
OF the court. But, under the circum-
stances, there was no other way to
bring about proper adjustment of
the situation. When I was elected
president, about three years ago. /
hoped to bring about the development
or Its business. and such n rearrange-
ment Of Its securities as would be
necessary without a receivership. The
history OF these three years has been
constant struggle. with encourage
ment in some directions and disap-
pointment In others. The receivership
would have been avoided had II not
been that the general depression In
business resulting from the European
war and the constant demands OF the
labor unions throttlcd the proposition
Just as the time seemed to be com
mencfng to make good. A short while
prior to my election as president. and
at very critical time In the COM
pany's development, there was a dis
up the road, and, although the prop
erty has never recovered from that
trouble. there has hardly been a month,
up to the present time. when there
have not been before the officers of the
company burdensome labor problems
and demands for increase in wages
and exactions of one sort or another.
The public does not realize to what
extent the railroads have to submit to
the dictates OF the Brotherhoods OF
Engineers and Firemen. Already the
highest paid skilled labor, they are
never satisfied. There are instances on
the Georgia and Florida where en-
gineers have earned 80 to so per cent
more per month than the superinten-
dent TO whom they reported. Some
day there Will have to be reckoning
with organized labor, or rather with
the leaders responsible for the condi-
tions such rs I have described and
when that day comes the public must
either demand fair play for the rail
roads or share In the chaos which
must come from continued demands
and eXactions from that source Every
man should he paid q reasonable wage,
but there Is limit to what a railroad d
can pay and remain solvent. and this
limit Is not far of with many OF the
railroads OF the country
DELAY OF COMMISSION
PROVES DISASTROUS
1T will not do to blame the Euro
pean war altogether for the depression
in business and the trouble of the rail-
roads, but also the combined infiu
ences of unreasonable labor demands
and the actions of the Interstate Com
mcrce Commission in the past The
great depression which has been exist :
ing SO long in the lumber market.
caused largely by the treatment of the
railroads by the Interstate Commerce
Commission. and the almost universal
restraint of trade resulting from its
inaction, seriously affected this com
pany's revenue. although II was not
an applicant for the 5-per cent rate
Increase. When the commission final
ly announced it's decision in the East
ern rate case the conditions were al
ready set up by the developments
abroad and the general anxiety
throughout the world. so that the good
which might have been accomplished
by more prompt decision was nulli-
fled, so far as any restoration of con-
fdence in the minds Of tho public or
the railroads was concerned The de-
preston occasioned by the European
war following the unfortunate condi-
ttons In the section 'traversed by this
railroad has borne heavily on the prom
erty, and 1t has seemed best to us. in,
the interest of all security holders. to
seek the protection Of tho court, rs
above indicated.
I'VE have for some months been de-
veloping plans which. with the restora-
tion Of anything like normal times i'm
the South, we expect to consummate
and, within reasonable time, restore
tho securities of the Georgia and
Florida Railway to their intrinsic
value" $50