Evening journal., 1919-07-25
FarLAcIous RAILROAD ARGUMENT.

- pFAKTNG before the Senate Committee Interstate
- Commerce. some time ago, Chicago lawyer, VINO
represented the organizations of railway employees advo-
Gated government ownership private operation Of
the roads
He would have the government sell bonds bearing
four per cent to raise money buy the roads by which
method he argued the bondhodes being assured OF re-
turn on their investment would feel interest In egisa-
tlon, privileges. or political action.
They would have no speculative interest Their re-
turn would be the regardless Of the manner In
which the roads operated.
For operating purposes he would organize corpora
zion here operating capacity would be its sole capital
The affairs OF the corporation would be administered by
a board Of directors OF whom one-hlrd would be Sc
lected by the classified employees below the grade OF ap
pontees one-third by the appointed officers and en-
poyes and one-third by the President Of the United
states with confirmation by the Senate.
No method suggested for the selection OF any OF
the directors by the people who TO be served by the
roads The employees would select wohrds Of the d.
rectors and the administration, changing with the
litlca Views Of the people Of the country would select
the other third
The operating corporation would be required to meet
all costs Of operation and fixed charges upon the capital
employed and would get a certain percentage Of the net
profits The balance Of the profits TO 10 the employees
as a dividend.
The line Of argument upon which the attorney for
the organized railroad employees based his scheme Is
somewhat follows
Under the old system OF private ownership and
operation the hope OF increased returns attuated only
those individuals employed in the service who might
reasonably be expected 20 share in those returns All
other employees were merely sciaed by fear that they
might lose their Jobs might face an actual or relative
decrease In wages
This statement is untrue. and even n Il true lt
would not support for the plan Of turning the
management Of the roads TO the employees.
That The great majority Of the railroad employees Of
the country have been actuated by fear Of loss of their
Jobs is so preposerous dscredlt the man making
The assertion.
The records show that the openings for promotion
are available to every man who enters the railway
service
perusal OF the records OF the men who have been
at the head Of the management OF the railroads viii show
that vast majority Of them who worked their
way up from the bottom
Most OF the men minor positions Of supervision are
men who began IN the lower ranks and ntted themselves
for hsher responsibilities by faithful and efficient service
Promotion on the basis Of merit has been the almost
universal rule among the railroad systems Of the country
II is true that only small proportion OF the total
number of employees can get TO the top the railway
service but that will under any plan Of operation
that can be devised II there be only fifty supervisory
positions to which 800 aspire Il Is mathematic-
ally certain that only nifty succeed in securing the
coveted places though all OF the 500 may hope to do
Turning the management over to the employees will
ioi alter the situation unless It Is proposed to increase
NE number Of higher positions for the express purpose
pf increasing the opportunities.
The fact is that in every line OF work-fsrming. mer-
ehandsng manufacturing rsroading, banking, publish
ing and what no-the large rewards relatively few
Except in the service most OF the promo
lions In any line Of endeayor attained by merit
The who Is now at the head OF the Railway Ad-
mlnstraon began as a lawyer not as practical rail-
road workman.