davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09
Railroad Shares
Strong Under Strain
Prices but Little Affected bv
Failure of Deficiency Bill;
Price COmparisOn
&c Comparison

A crisis in the financial affairs of
brought to q focus last week by the
failure of the expiring Congress to
pass the deficiency bill, thus cutting
off the roads from an appropriation of
$750,000,0 900 for additions, betterments
and Improvements, which might have
been expected to cause great appre-
hcnsion in financial and industrial
circles.
But if there was any such feeling it
did not reflect in the market action Of
railroad securities, usually accepted as
a fairly accurate barometer of rail
road conditions.
What happened was this:
A few timid holders of railroad
stocks and bonds sold their securities,
but the rank and file of owners Of in
vestments Of this character, confident
in the ability of the railroad admins
tration and the bankers to work out a
practicable plan for meeting the emer-
gency, refused to sell. The net result
was a fairly steady market for rail
road securities, the majority of such
issues at the close of the week stand
ing at about the level Of the preceding
week.
In view of the great problems that
loom ahead in the matter of the future
of the railroads the following com
parison Of the market position of the
shares Of the leading railroad proper
ties at current prices with the low
prices of 1918 and this year to date is
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09
w America Is Cropping Find Way Out of the Railway MIDDLE

expresses ran. Goods destined for
distances of a hundred miles were de-
livered by the truck which loaded them;
goods for longer distances were taken
to the railroads.
Soon this multiplicity of motor
truck transport had its effect Mater
ials of war reached Europe long in
advance OF the time expectation set
by the Germans And motor trucks
too were sent overseas in such numbers
that, according to some authorities, the
war was won because with the motor
truck the Allies were enabled to rush
men and vital supplies to spots of peril
in the most speedy fashion. All Of this
increased transportation and this
greater efficiency which finally won the
war came because the motor truck
added to The situation its relief of the
railroads.
At first all Of the trucks travelled
empty one way The Return Loads
Bureaus were step which came before
complete organization OF the traffic.
Owners of motor trucks registered with
the bureaus, which were widely estab-
lished over the country through the
fundamentally of chambers of COM
merce and similar bodies. Shippers were
asked to communicate their needs to
the bureaus. In this way the bureaus
acted as clearing house for motor
traffic needs.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09
BY Emory r. Johnson


Professor Of Transportation and Conn.,
merce, University OF Pennsylvania.
THE railroad administration has re-
II qucSted that authority be given it
10 operate the railroads of the United
States for a period of five wears. This
request has been made in order that
the railroad administration NAV show
what can be accomplished by govern
ment operation and control during nor
NAL peace times. Also, that plans NAV
be worked out for developing water
ways and articulatilg them with the
railroads, and for bringing about the
unlhcatlon and more systematic devel-
cpment of railroad terminals at all i'm
portant inland and seaboard cities.
Other reasons have been given for ia
vorable action upon the request. but
the foregoing are those that possess
real merit.
Congress Will, however, adjourn on
the 4th of March without providing
tor the extension of government opera
ton of railroads from a two-vear to a
five-year period. During the last two
months the Senate Committee on Com
MERGE has been Investigating the rail
road question, and it will doubtless
continue its investigation during the
recess of Congress. Presumably the
Committee on Interstate and Foreign
Commerce of the House of Representa-
tives will undertake the investigation
OF the railroads for the purpose of de-
Gliding upon programme of remedial
La rloA
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09
Motor Truck
Leaps Into Lead

IL is obvious also that war necessity
placed thousands of American motor
trucks in Europe, where they proved
most efficient in moving men and sup
plies to critical points in the line Of
battle more than 200 miles long. In
deed. it is asserted that without Amer
lean motor trucks and the road system
Of France the Germans would never
have been stopped in their first drive
on Paris.
II is obvious, too. that motor trucks
will play an important part in the re-
construction of Europe. But 1t is not
quite so obvious that the system al
ready developed in America Is to be
followed By one in Europe on the same
scale, but with reverse functions. Yet
the two are inseparable, and to gain a
complete conception of the coming Eu-
ropean system of motor truck trans
port, it is first necessary to study the
one already in operation in America.
And it is a highly interesting study.
For while persons in the industry ana
those in industries which have been
aided by the motor truck have some
knowledge Of the subject, the general
American public has little complete
and exact conception regarding the
vide spread Of this newest transporta-
ton element.
i. is related in the motor transport
industry that when the break came IN
tie regular operation Of the railroads
a manufacturer with factories in the
Middle West, who commonly got his
materials at the Atlantic seaboard,
found his plants on the point Of ex-
hausting their raw supplies. He de-
termned to cut the knot and secured
big feet Of motor trucks. 1t was an
emergency case which justified the long
haul. He successfully moved his ma
.erials from an Atlantic port to his
Middle Western plants.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09
ated moro or less irregularly, with
loads on only one way of their trip.
Organizing Ne,o
Trans pOrtation Means

Then followed quick period of sys-
tematization and organizing. The Ma
tional Automobile Chamber of Com
merce, tie Council of National Defence,
the National Food Administration, the
States Relations Service, the Chamber
of Commerce of the United States, the
Department of Labor, the National
Railroad Administration, the Highways
Transport Committee and other agen-
cies studied the question and devised
and put into effect constructive meas
ures. Return loads bureaus were es-
travel empty one way. The govern
ment departments stimulated the es-
tablishing of motor truck express lines
throughout the country.
The German General Staff believed
confidently that America could not come
fully into the war until some time in
1919, when it would be too late to in
fIence the issue. But the speed and
efficiency Of the motor truck made that
German calculation, like so many others,
a boomerang. Soon there were in oper-
alton over the entire United States
regular motor truck lines, which oper-
ated on regular routes and schedules.
These, absorbing the short haul traffic
up to distances of we'll over a hundred
miles, became the natural feeders for
the railroads at the same time that
they relieved them Of much difficult
way traffic.
The inadequacy Of the railroad sys-
TENS to the short haul traffic has long
been recognized. In the case Of ship
ments which are to so only little
distance on a railroad, as much prcpa-
ration must be made as for trans
continental railroad in the matter Of
preliminary transportation. The goods
must be collected at their point OF
origin and transported to a railroad
station. There they must be sorted
and shifted about until train is
made up for their destination or
enough freight accumulated for a
way train. At their destination they
must be again sorted and transported
to the place of ultimate consumption.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09
" eakness Of
brotherhood Plan

The weakness of the brotherh Gods
plan of government ownership and
employees operation is that the finan-
cial difficulties of purchasing the rail
roads and of providing the necessary
new capital year by year are either
ignored or very impartially recog-
nized. To secure 100000 100000 of
funds for the railroads and to add
from $500,O00,O0O to $1,O00,000,00O of
new capital to the railroads each year
would put greater strain on govern
ment credit than the brotherhood lead
ers realize. Naturally, the present ad-
vocates of government ownership of
railroads seek to show that govern
ment operation will be efficient and
will provide for the adequate develop
ment of transportation facilities, while
those who do not believe in govern
ment ownership are firmly of the opin-
ION that corporate ownership and OPP
Grafton will be more efficient and will
more fully meet the needs of the coun-
The spokesman of the railway
brotherhoods frankly admit that they
advocate a new philosophy They say
that the railroads in the past have
been run by the railroad companies
for private profit. 1t is proposed that
in the future the railroads shall be
run by the employees for the benefit of
the public. The philosophy is not con
vincing to the disinterested onlooker
1t does not seem equitable to the pub
lie for the government to carry all
the burdens and assume all the risks
of ownership, while the employees OPP
crate the railroads OH a profit sharing
plan without assuming any of the bur
dens or risks.
The proposals made by the railroad
executives and by the Interstate Com
mcrce Commission for the solution OF
the railroad question have many
points in common. The main differ
ence between these two plans is that
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09
Professor johnson Says Govern
ment Should Extend Own
Credit to Private Roads When
Necessary to Provide Ade-
quate Facilities to the Public

turn their operation over to a corpo
ration controlled by the employees.
Thus stated. it would seem the plan
would not secure much support, but
the appeal made by the representa-
tives Of the railroad brotherhoods and
employees is stronger than many per
sons may realize. The spokesman of
the employees argue that public utili-
ties should not be managed for private
profit and that the public should Sc
cure railroad services at cost. This
is the appeal made to the public The
support of the employees and of labor
generally is secured by the argument
that the economic interest of the en-
ployes will be favorably affected.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

ulating authority to establish rates
that will yield adequate revenue. This
subject needs more thought and an
alysis than have yet been given it, but
it would seem desirable that the gov
eminent should not only require the
Interstate Commerce Commission to
fix rates that will produce an adequate
revenue, but should provide for the ex-
tension of government credit where
and in so far as it may be necessary
to enable the railroads to provide
facilities required by the public
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

This week the leading financial men
of the country, including in their
number some of the greatest bankers
of Wall Street, will meet the railroad
administration officials at Washington.
They go there prepared to cooperate
in every way possible with the Federal
officials in providing the necessary
funds to tide the roads over their
temporary difficulty. At the close of
last week a prominent banker in the
financial district said there is not
the slightest reason for apprehension
over the railroad situation" and that
is apparently the feeling of the holders
of railroad securities. They would,
however, like an early end of the un-
certainty as to the future control of
the roads,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09
Adding Bulscarks
OF Strength to X. X. Credit

The strengthening of railroad credit
can come about only by the government
guarantee of the securities of the rail
roads or by policy of regulation
that makes it mandatory upon the reg
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09
European Countries Likely
to Copy the American
Motor Transport Idea
By.Product of the War
Bring Railroads to Inacces-
sible Farms and to the
Doors of Industrial Plants
Bv B. w. Babcock

TIME taking over Of the short haul
of the entire world by the Ameri
can motor truck
The establishment throughout Eu
,ope and the United States of sys-
tenn of production and distribution so
sne that it practically means a rail-
road direct to the door of every place
Of production and a railroad direct to
every place of consumptlon-
The founding Of a marketing svs-
tam so complete that it buys the prod
net ct the place of its origin and sells
u with the least economic waste and
.Tort directly at the place Of it's con-
SUMPTION
--ins.itutions-th America owes to
her magic of war. now become her
magic of peace, or will dwellings
that have been effected through the in
s.rumentality of striving country, q
living breathing national entity, with
her material resources completely mo-
bilized for war purposes, intent on saw
ing the best in humanity, but never
theless throwing off valuable by-prod-
ucts.
1t is obvious that under the spur OF
war and the breakdown of the coun-
try's railroads at "a critical time in the
history Of the world, the motor truck
leaped into the breach and built up a
system of collection that extended to
the very door of the factory and the
ward of the farm and took over and or
gained thoroughly the short haul IN
this country up to distances of hun.
dred miles and over.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

Continued on pdos sfx.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

TIME taking over of the short haul
Of the entire world by the Ameri-
can motor truck
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

Debentures to be issued to an
amount such that interest requires
1870 Of operating income. Balance
Of operating income to be capital
lied at so in stock.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

To be arranged, also re-routins Of
freight, etc, by above Federal
Corporation.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

CPtONt OOfTtSpOffdcnc6
NJ ONTREAL, Feb. 2s.-The out
IV come of the present railroad
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

Subject to direction Of the Secre.
tary Of transportation; also other
similar matters.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

This and similar questions to be
settled by officers and representa-
ton Of individual employees az
ieeted, il possible, otherwise by a
board under the Secretary Of
Transportation.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

Roads all to be operated by one
private corporation, stock Of which
is to be held in trust for the exclu-
sivc benefit Of the employees.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09
Approaches Solution of the Transportation Problem

Government ownership. Operation
by private corporation run by en-
Ployecs, which pays government a
rental out Of the receipts Of opera
ton.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

Regional Commissions to act as
Boards Of Cancellation. Appeal
TO Interstate Commission.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

A committee OF nine directors Of
operating company empowered to
make binding and final decisions
in all wage disputes.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

a Federal corporation directed by
the nine Interstate Commerce
Commissioners and eight railroad
men to finance purchase Of equip
mcnt from the Railroad Admins
tration, purchase Of new equip
ment, and financing Of the return
Of the roads to private control.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-03-09

Debentures and stock to be issued
only as authorized by Federal
Railway Board.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-12

AS to enemy countries, Mr.. Hoover
tered, they still have securities to pay
for the food they are to receive He
said that the United States has at pres
ent thirty-eight officers travelling in
Germany, conducting an investigation of
food conditions. According to the re-
ports received, the chief difficulty was
presented by the question of supplying
fats.
Mr.. Hoover emphasized that food al
lowances to Germany will be made grad
ually only, and in exchange for the use
Of German shipping.
In regard to private OF semi-private
relief organizations, Nh. Hoover said
that he was prepared to handle all their
needs, buy food for them and provide
free ocean transportation, but that he
could not undertake distribution after
supplies leave the ships.
In the mean time action was being
taken by Congress on the Presidents ap-
peal for a $100,00000O fund On Mon
day, January 6, the Presidents request
was approved by the House Appropria-
tons Committee. On Tuesday, however,
difficulties became manifest.
dispatch from Washington quotes
Senators Borah and Smoot as opposing
the measure unless more information re-
garding plans for the use of the money
was forthcoming.
"If we have no more information than is
given in the Presidents message" said
Senator Borah, 81. for one, Will not vote
for the appropriation.
Il shall not vote this 100000, 900 if it
is to be expended by Nh. Hoover in the
manner he expended funds in this country.
Pm not willing to vote on congratulations.
We must have detailed facts
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-12

"In fact, in all the world, the greatest
danger which threatens the right of peoples
to self determination cores from Russia
While the peace conference is preparing
just settlement of Europes complex prob
lens, settlement in keeping so far as pos
sibe with the wishes and interests of all
peoples, the Bolsheviki are working actively
to force upon them their own obnoxious
programme. Their agents are present every
where, armed with money and propaganda
to spread the gospel Of violence and an
archy. They make no secret Of their hatred
Of the democracy for which the world has
sacrificed so much and their resolve to
wage against it relentless warfare"
The general European alarm over the
westward drive of the Bolshevki is
sounded by an editorial printed in the
journal de Geneva:
"The Russian Bosheviki are advancing
They have reconstructed an army of mer-
cenaries very well paid, and it is said, or
ganized and disciplined. It's numbers, reck-
oned by its adversares as high as 2,0O0,0 900,
are, perhaps, exaggerated; but at least they
are sufficient to move almost without meet
ing resistance on the footsteps of the re-
treating Germans.
Cali the populations Of Western Russia
Lithuanians, White Russians, ETC., are fall
ing, one after the other, into the power
of triumphant anarchy. Now Poland is
threatened. The aid promised by the Allies
is not forthcoming and the Poles are hard
pressed on all sides by Ruthenians and
Bolsheviki.
"And what is Germanys attitude in this
turmoil? It is hard to say. While the
Poles accusing the Germans Of favoring
Bolshcvism in Poland, and break off dplo-
matte relations on that account, the Ger
mans, for their part, dread the Bolshevist
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-12
Keds Are Among Us; Shall We Let Them Stav

Of the precautions prompted by this
warning "The New York World" re-
ported:
The order particularly specified the
homes of Messrs. Schwab, Morgan. Car
negie, Gary, Astor and other capitalists to
be carefully guarded. Cathedrals and other
public buildings were also mentioned in
the general order to the police, as possible
scenes of destruction
Homes of judges and magistrates, espe-
cially those who have sentenced Bolsheviks
and other anarchists to long terms, were
also closely watched over by the police.
THE Police Department placed special
guards in front of the homes of MANY
wealthy snen, judges, Mayor Hylan, public
buildings, churches and the residence of
Police Commissioner Enright in Brooklyn
last night, following a warning received
from the Philadelphia police that the Boil
shevik anarchists who terrorized that CITY
earlier in the week by hurting bombs into
homes of public officials are, now in New
York"
The presence of big Bolshevik prop
uganda fund in this country was re-
vealed in the course Of the Investigation
started in New York by Federal, state
and city authorities following the Phila-
delphia explosion. "The New York
Times" reported:
1T was announced at the local headuuar-
ters OF the Department Of Justice yesterday
that steps were being taken to prevent the
dissemination Of Boishevist propaganda
here. Five groups Of Reds are understood
to have established headquarters here Spc-
cial Deputy Attorney General Alfred H.
Becker said, while secret agents of Leninc
and Trotzky had recently come to this citv
from Russia by way Of Siberia with large
bolshevist propaganda fund amounting to
800, 600"
According to "The New York World"
Federal agents are in possession Of an
elaborate who's Who in American Boil
shcysm" list, containing 1000 names.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-01-12

Russian revolution. When asked by a
"World'' reporter when he expected the
outbreak of the great revolution in the
United States, Weinstein said:
at is hard to foretell how long it will
take. There was q time, not long ago. when
the whole world said that the German pro-
letariat would never revolt But all of a
sudden the German proletarat revolted and
now we see them going in the same path as
the Russian Bolsheviki. You may draw
whatever conclusion you want. We are not
prophets. We revolutionists and
scholars. We think the working people all
over the world will not agree to the form
OF life which existed before the war. and
they will change the form of life and change
1T by force if necessary"
1t was explained at the Bolshevik con-
ventlon that the main object of the gath
erlng was to discuss educational plans.
however, resolutions protesting against
the presence Of the former Russian Am
bassador at Washington, Bakhmeteff.
and of Prince Lvoff at the peace table
were Endorsed. 1t was demanded that
the American soviets, when organized.
Shall be recognized as the official repre-
sentatives in this country of the Russian
Soviet Republic. A greeting was sent to
the next congress of the All-Russian
soviets.
New York is not the only American
city where the issue of Bolshevism has
assumed an acutely local character.
According to dispatch to "The New
York World" from Baltimore, the Rev.
Constantine Seletsk, pastor of Russian
church there, declared that fully 90 per
cent of Baltimore's Russian colony are
Bolsheviki. In Boston the Federal
authorities are following with keen in
terest the development of newspaper
recently started there under the name
Revolutionary Age" "The World"
says:
This paper has for it's editor Lewis
Fraina, it was said. IT has named MS con