Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-24
RAILROADS PUT
III UP TO WILSON"
Will Give Him Free Rein
in Legislative
Remedies
OPERATION COST is CITED
"Take Roads Out of Politics" "
Lawyer Tells Congressional
Probe Committee

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2L--President Will
son will be given free rein by the rail-
roads Of the country In working out legE-
lative remedies for Industrial disputes.
Railroad executives are convinced the only
man who can accomplish what they believe
the Industrial world demands along this line
If the President
NJ was learned today assurances 10 this
effect have come from railroad officials.
Tho reasons arc twofold FIRST, IL has
become known the roads devotng their en-
tire time TO combating the constitution
atty OF the Adamson cght-hour law, nave
not considered formulation OF plan which
would meet the approval Of the brother
hoods.
Second. the road executives believe the
President In view OF recent events, can be
depended on by themselves, the brother
hoods and the public 10 put forth a feasible
plan that will eliminate the strikes to
which transportation systems now arc sub
jected. and which would be supported by all
parties concerned
SEEKS DEFINITE PLAN
Il was admitted today that, after fire.
uuent conferences Of the railroad executives
tol formulate some definite plan Of elimna-
ln3y strikes and lockouts, It was decided to
2but the whole thing up TO wilson In
this connection It was explained that the
executives have reached the conclusion that
any such plan submitted by them could
factory" since ii might be looked upon as
n measure constructed "in submission TO
the acknowledged power of labor and tenn.
pernd with threat OF strike by the work.
srs." 4
Alfred r. Thom. chairman Of the counsel
FOR the railroads advisory committee. told
the Newlands Joint committee on interstate
commerce that the railroads OF the United
States must have 81 l,5OO, 100000 year If
they nre to handle the commerce Of the ma
tion properly. He said they needed Sl,25O,-
600. 900 annually for increasing facilities to
keep pace with the growth of commerce
and $3.50. 900 900 a year to refund maturing
indebtedness.
take the railroads out of politics" was
the demand voiced by Mr., Thorn, as he CON
tinued his opening statement for the rail-
roads before the committee. The railroad
lawyer asserted that while the, railroads
themselves had been reformed. so far as
participation in political elections was CON
cerned they were stlll under political
management"
THE big railroad problem confronting
this country" he said. Twill never be solved
until these great transportation facilities.
essentially business organizations are ra-,
moved from the realm of politics. and regu-
lated on sound business principles. II can
not be solved while conditions allow any
politician to base his whole public life on
n reputation for fighting railroads"
PLEA FOR REFORM
The railroad argument for complete
reform in the present system of railroad
regulation was continued and elaborated
by Mr.. Thom. He pointed out that not only
are roads regulated from a political view
point by political organizations, but that
there were forty-nine separate Government
agencies in the various States and the Fed
eral Government itself, each prescribing a
dlnerent standard ofaconduct for the roads,
The principal of government regtila-
ton" he said, ''is lnsoparable from the
railroads because Of their very nature as
public utilities. But this principle should
be properly applied. It must safeguard the
public against abuses. and yet It must
leave the railroads In a financial condition
which will attract money for expansion.
1t should be as free as possible from poll
tics.'