The Washington herald., 1917-12-21
} RAILBURDENS
MAY AID ROADS
Holland Quotes Trumbul' S
Views on Likelihood Of
Enightening Public.

began war Frank Trumbul, chairman
Of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad
company's board. outlined what he
believed would be necessary II the Sc
rious situation In which the railway
companies Of the United States found
themselves was to be ended.
Mr.. TrumbulI was at that time
chairman of . committee among
whose members were some OF the
leading railway operators In the Unit
ed States This committee was Or
ganiEed for the purpose Of calling to
the attention of the public what the,
railway world was and what should
be the remedy. The committee was
on an educational campaign.
The railway managers believed and
Mr.. Trumbul himself believed that IL
the public had a thorough understand
ing of what the situation was and
what the railroads needed, there
would be speedily a change OF senti-
ment which ultimately might lead to
recognition by Congress and by State
legislatures and compel remedial ac-
ton
Handling Vast Traffic.
At the time Mr.. TrumbulI thus
states were handling the largest
amount Of freight traffic which they
had ever been called upon to trans
port. Yet their earnings were not at
all commensurate with this volume OF
trafiic. In the year 1916, about three
years after the conversation with Mr..
Trumbull took place, the railroads OF
the United states were compelled TO
haul 100000 600 moro ton mi'~r ~
freight traffic than they hauled in
1913, which, up To that ,lEIC, w-S d
record year. Mr.. TrumbuIl now says
that II Il no wonder that the railways
are staggering under this stupendous
load.
Probably the railway managers who
organized a committee for the pur-
pose Of giving to the people instruc-
ton OF kind which would sooner
or laterNAd to the forming Of such
strong public opinion as ultimately to
force legislators so TO act as to put
an end to the demoralizing conditions,
We're compelled to look far into the
future before public opinion Of that
kind was secured.
1t might require many years. ten OF
fifteen, at least. before public opinion
so changed as to make il possible for
~ 80 Ht1llbudI anu eldltt
and the people to cooperate with the
railroads and the railroads on the
other hand with the government and
people.
Frank TrumbuIPs View.
In a recent communication Mr..
Trumbull calls attention to the fact
that the suddenly created and unpar-
alleled emergencies which have been
caused by the war have probably done
much to stimulate public opinion and
TO make the time not distant, but near,
when there will be satisfactory CO.
operation between the railroads. the
employees. the public and the govern
ment- For the war has been, teaching
q wonderful object lesson Respecting !
the railroad situation ~
Four years ago Mr.. Trumbun out |
lined briefly the view Of the commit |
tee OF which he Is chairman respecting |
the measures which should be taken IL |
the railways Of the United States are I
to be placed upon a sound basis and !
enabled so to improve transportation I
facilities as to make 1t possible, |
through cooperation, conveniently to |
handle the enormous traffic which will |
be offered to them during tho war and |
after the war.
condensed into a brief paragraph, |
the view Of this committee was that |
there should be. first, broadminded |
national regulation of the railways |
under the control OF the government !
This Is factor which President Will
son is understood to have now in
mind.
Second. there should follow perfect
cooperation between the government,
the public, the railroad companies
and their employees. And third, there
should Ne adequate rates. This is all |
this abe committee OF railroad man
ayers had in mind four years ago.
Now Mr.. TrumbulI clearly intimates
that he Il inclined to believe that
the time Is not distant when these
three important factors in solving
the railway problem will have been
established.
An Encouraging Investment.
. Now that there is better under
'Standing Of the floating OF a ten mil
lion dollar bond issue for the Miami |
Conservancy District than was pos
sible few days ago, the transaction