New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-21
VANDERBILT SEES
GRAVE R. R. PERIL
Blames Politicians and
Labor for Hardening of
Nations Arteries"
From The Tribune Buresu. ]

Washington, Oct. 20. - Placing the
blame for the present hardening of
the arteries" of railroads Of this coun-
try on politicians who "sell executive
judgment for votes" and on the labor
unions, Frank A. Vanderlip, president
Of the National City Bank Of New York,
stirred the Society of Railway Finan-
cial Officers at their annual meeting
here to-day.
Paris was saved at the time of tie
first German drive, just before tho
battle of the Marine, Mr.. Vanderlip
said, by the collapse of the German
railroads, according to letter he had
seen recently from that Mr.. Thornton
who was regarded as one of our rail-
road geniuses in this country and who
was selected by the British government
to be one of small group of men who
are now running all the English rail-
roads"
Had these railroads not broken
they would have changed the history
of the world.
This illustrates the Importance to q
nation of preparedness of its railroads,
and the subject ought to be in the con-
slant thought of our statesmen-if We
have any-and constantly before our
people if they think.
State Control Best
1.-THE idea that you are going to be
happy if you get rid of state control
do not believe in. Men have said to
me since have been in this room that
we are tending inevitably toward gov
eminent ownership. If We are, We are
tending toward a national tragedy. |
do not know where We are going. We
are going somewhere, that's lure, be-
cause railroad development cannot
stand still without crash.
But what is the trouble with this
business, the mainstay of American
life and commerce? Last year there
was the smallest amount of railroad
construction in the history Of the
United States since the Civil War. In
1915 there was only sl2 900 put into
the business. So, if you have any idea
that notwithstanding the magnitude Of
what you are doing you are popultr,
get it out of your heads. As E. P.
Ripley, president Of the Santa Fe, once
said to me, Let's throw away the fig
ures and get down to business
Free Dollars, Not Slaves
1--WE heard something here the other
day, in Washington, about the posi-
bility Of enforced arbitration, and it
also was said that man cannot be sub
jected TO involuntary servitude.'
well, you can't subject a free dollar
to involuntary seyitude, either. For
ty-two thousands of miles of railroads
are in the hands of receivers. We
ought to be building 100000 freight
cars a year, but last year We built only
$4,000.
This is . serious situation. You
recently have seen legislative increases
of wages, you have seen receiversh;ps.
You have heard lot about lax methods
of finance in railroads, but they do
not amount to 10 per cent of the total,
and would like to know il any set OF
politicians, city, state or national,
would like to be judged as a whole by
the 10 per cent of their worst perform
ances.
MANY Of Us are coming to the time
OF life now when we have to go into
physicians Office to have our blood
pressure tested. 1t is time TO take the
blood pressure Of the railroads in the
United States, and when it is taken, |
predict that there will be found a
hardening of the arteries; and, just rs
certain az a man with hardening OF
the arteries is in dangerous condi-
ton. so certain is country in dan
gerous condition that has that con-
plant. II we ever get into q struggle
we will 60 under"