Evening journal., 1917-05-21
THE GOVERNMENT AND THE RAILWAYS IN THIS
WAR

WAR;
THE present large car shortage the Railway Age Ca
zete says in It's current issue. is not due to the
fact that the railways are not being efficiently oper-
ated but to the fact that there is much bush
ness than before to handle
in the fiscal year ended on June 30 1876 the Ca
zete says "he railways transported fortytwo billion
ton-mes Of freight traffic than they did in the
fiscal year 1913, which previously the record year.
and in the calendar year ended December 81 1916
they set another record by handling twenty three bill
lion on-mles OF freight traffic moro than they did in
the fiscal year ended June 80 1916 The total traffic
moved has continued to increase The freight traffic
moved in January and February the latest months
for which figures available again surpassed all
movements in those months in other years The reason
why there present record breaking car shortage
is that there is still record-breaking business
1.-THE entrance OF this country into the war probably
will cause st further increase in traffic. II WILL
besides have another effect which little considera-
ton has been given. II will make it necessary the
railways give priority to the movement OF govern
ment traffic But it is impossible to give priority to a
large volume Of traffic Of any kind without interfering
seriously with the OF all other traffic The
tendency therefore OF the addition OF this govern
men business will be not only to increase the amount
Of service which the railways will to render but
to interfere with the efficient practical OF the
facilities left for the handling OF ordinary business
and the one Immediately following the commencement
Of the conflict in Europe that u.s. fiscal years 1914
and 1915 financially the two in the history
OF railways since the panic days OF the 9Os Dur
ing those two years it necessary to curan
penditures for maintenance. improvements addi-
lions almost much physically possible. Then
came suddenly and without warning year Of fever
ish and largely artificial prosperity during which it
was impossible to get enough materials, supplies and
labor for adequate maintenance. Then, suddenly be-
fore IL practicable make up any deferred main
tcnance there began series Of uncxamped advances in
prices and wages These cited as reasons in add
ton to the great increase traffic why railway facili
ties arc not sufficient.
"Tho managers OF the railways tho Railway Age
Gazette ARE fully alive the situation They
have not waited for the government to tell them their
duty and indicate how they shall do it, but have vol
unfairly formed organization for operating all OF
the roads single system in order that largely
CARELESS of the interests OF individual lines they may
utilize all their facilities give to the govern
ment and the travelling and shipping public during this
crisis the best and most adequate service possible.
Ut is not conceivable however in view Of the
nous increases in wages prices and taxes which have
occurred and are sun going on that the homogeneous
by even the most efficient methods. maintain their
net operating income without government aid during
the emergency Expenses and stnl are ncreas-
ing practically all roads faster than earnings and
Win present rel8ht ana passenger rates the net Oper
ating income Of the railways will be down and
even lower than at in 1914 and 1915 Government
aid may be given it has been the English rail-
ways in the form Of guarantee OF the net return
earned before the 1t may be given in the form
which It has been asked for by our railways namely
that Of increase in rates. The evidence introduced
last week Washington by witnesses for the railways
showed that general increase OF 10 per cent freight
rates would be much less than sufficient roads
to Offset increases in wages prices and taxes which
already have occurred
Just how long this assistance will be needed
how large il ought TO be is yet to be determined But
thing may be stated with gertrude That is, UNI
less the and the public give the railways
the assistance they need to carry them through the
present emergency the roads will be able to render
the service the governmnt and public will need to
carry them through this emergency. The people OF
the United States no more afford TO refuse TO the
railways the earnings they require TO enable them to
handle the governments and the country's business
than they afford 10 refuse to the army the navy
the appropriations required to enable them to carry
on effectively their operations"