The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-01-09
PRESIDENT WILLARD
is VERY OPTIMISTIC
PRESIDENT Will = -
Believes the Railroad Outlook
is More Encouraging Than
1t Was Year Ago.

BALTIMORE, Jan. = Discussing
the status of business and OUTLOOK and
the possible effect of the dual system
Of regulation Of the railroads, Daniel
Willard, president of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad, said:
81 think the railroad outlook Is more
encouraging. than it was, a year ago.
Certainly railroad earnings in the
eastern part of the United States must
be considered generally satisfactory
at the present time. II business con-
ditions remain substantially as at
present, would say that 1t is likely
that earnings for the present fiscal
year will be as large as in any previ-
Gus year. would hardly feel like pre-
dieting now that thew will be larger
than in any previous year. Net earn
inss will no doubt be more satisfactory
than they were during the last pre-
yious fiscal year. am inclined to
think maintenance expenditures will
be above the average, but that upon
the whole the net results will likely
be looked upon as generally satisfac-
tory. III.
81. OF course, have no means Of
knowing what particular problems the
president had in mind when he wrote
his message. AS l view the situation
however, one of the most serious and
pressing problems confronting the
railroads today is in connection with
our system of dual regulation-that
is. regulation by the federal govern
ment and at the same time regulation
by the individual states.
.I believe the railroad situation
would be much improved IL we could
have exclusive regulation by federal
commission.
Another matter of equal Importance
is the labor question. We read con-
stantly of contemplated movements
by the labor bodies, intended to bring
abou higher wages and lessened hours
of service. There again have no
means Of knowing just what those
who are responsible for the conteni-
plated movement expect to accomplish,
but whatever burden is added to the
railroads in the way of increased labor
costs must eventually be fully re-
Elected in the rates which the public
must nay for the service which the
railroads perform. There is no other
way in which the carriers can meet the
burden Of increased operating costs.
say there is no other way because
do not believe under existing condi-
tions it will be possible to meet such
increased burdens by greater econom-
les in operation.
~ am heartily in favor Of com.
mission of inquiry such as the presi-
dent suggests, and for the reason that
l believe that anything which tends
to lay before the public exact truth
concerning the railroad situation will
in the end be helpful to the carriers.
Personally, am not opposed to gov
ernment regulation OF the railroads,
In fact, i am convinced that 1t is better
for the railroads themselves that there
should be proper supervision and
regulation by the federal government.
$50 far as nave personally opserV-
ed, / think the state regulation bodies
have endeavored to meet the situation
fairly: but at the same time the rail-
road question is so broad that do
not think a system Of dual regulation
such as we have at the present time
can be made to produce satisfactory
results, and, further the business Of
the railroads has increased so much
since the original passage Of the inter
state commerce law that ! believe
IT will be found, II the whole subject
is carefully investigated, that either
an enlargement of the commission or
a readjustment Of its duties has be-
come necessary. That matter, how
ever, could be, and no doubt would
be, thoroughly developed by such an
.