Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-03-16
The Biggest Union" Of All.

Financial New York was somewhat
astonished by the statement Of the
Railway Executives Advisory. Com
mittec that there are 42,o0t miles of
American railroads in the hands of
Ceivers. This is about one-sixth of the
total railway mileage and is the largest
number of miles under receivership in
the. history of the country. The COM
mittee attributes this condition, in
large measure, to the fact that there
are 40 different sets Of commissions and
legislatures regulating the affairs Of
railroads. The result of this multiple
ity OF regulatory authorities is confus-
ion'Snd costly duplication of operating
expresses. This Conflict of regulations
causing increased expenditures has
been accompanied by reduction Of
rates The situation has become SO
serious that many of even the most
prosperous ROADS find great difficulty
IN dlscEarSing their obligation Of ade-
puate service tc the public and paving
dividends to their share holders.
Some of the aspects of this serious
situation have their humorous side.
For example: One state says there
must ne cuspider between each two
seats in car. The next state will
Fave none of the vulgar and unsan-
itary utensil Cuspidors must accord
inCelV ho
other state demands window screens IN
passenger cars. The adjoining state
iorbids them. The poor old freight
caDocse comes in for mauling that
'os'S 'he railroads good money Fiji
teen states insist on two fodr-wheel
trucks while the rest are content with
one four wheeler. Eighteen feet h.rs
oeV, considered good length for
cahoose Thirteen states, however have
passed laws making them not less than
"a feet long. Mississippi has raised tbe
limit to Is feet and Maine has gone one
better. WranSles over the exact width
OF caboose latforms have whiled awav
many an idle hour for state legislators
Eight states insist on "a inches Jli,o;s
ana Missouri don't like this at all but
agree that 80 inches in just right. Iowa
allows Is inches and Nebraska 20
These are only a few of the humorous
aspects. When this same conflict an
pears IN rate-making and regulation of
bond issues the humor fades.
And now comes the manifest dutv of
the national government to regulate or
ganized trainmen, so that public util-
iues that are regulated by -the govern
ment. may not cause public disaster
because utilities have been regulated
If railroads could meet the demands of
their laborers and then take it out of
patrons without interference by the
government here or there, the present
difficulty could be met.
Congress acted unwisely, at the Pres
idents demand. in supinely bowing be-
fore the brotherhoods hold-up men
last fall. 1t foolishly refused to act
as the President requested. on . pro-
visions empowering the Executive to
take control Of the railroads on threat
Of war"
The manifest fear Of congressman for
organized labor has been doubly dem
onstrated in the last six months. but
even a politics-pottering Congress
ought to have seen the folly Of starv-
ing the great mass Of organized and
unorganized labor to please a small
faction Of torpedoers Of law and Jus
tice.
The first act Of the new Congress
should be for the prevention of railroad
strikes. II compulsory arbitration. COW
ers 1t. so b. It, but II severe penalties
are required to teach factions Of our
citizenship the majesty Of the law, and
the fact that the American Union IS
greater than any intolerant and DOM
ineering group Of selfish individuals.
then let US have the law and the PEN
alties.
Certain reasonable utterances Of