The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-03-24

believe the plan of operation adopted for the war period has ad- vantages and helped to produce the results needed during that critical time, but the present methods in my judgment, are not the best for peace times, either now, or in the future, whatever system of regulation is finally adopted. I am perhaps freer to make this suggestion than many others because any change does not affect me personally for the reason that my work is of such character that it will not be affected by the proposed change, dealing as it does with the corporate, financial and gen eraI questions of poIicy, organization, finances, and management, and not with the detailed operation of the roads.
 Questions of wages and working conditions affecting individual rail roads ought to be settled. if reason ably possible, by the officers of the railroads and the representatives of the employees, on the ground. This cannot be done in every case, and there must be the right of appeal to higher officers and ultimately to some .bOarl representing all interests. Op- erating officers who are close to the situation believe that the men are more and more anxious to get back to the practice of dealing with their own officers as to the ordinary ques- t1ons under dispute, and that men and officers both want to get close to one another in handling these questions of wages and working conditions, al though a strong governmental board of some kind is necessary. The nor ale of the service will imrove as the percentage q of cases handled on the
 
 of instances of appeals to higher au- thority decreases. The circunlIocu- tiOnary methods that necessarily fol- low with too great an application of centralized control are unsatisfactory to all concerned.
 MOrale Can Be Improved.
 l believe very strongly that a new basis of regulation can be worked out within the 21 months period, and that if the management and op- erauon of the properties is returned to the directors of each company. subject to the orders Of the Director General, there will be an improved esprit de corps, less unrest, and that greater efficiency will be obtained; that all of the plans about uniffca- ton, economy, etc, that the central administration may wish to carry out
 
 ate organizations promptly. Under this plan there will be some saving in money because there is now more or less unavoidable duplication of eff fort, and a better preparation will be made for carrying on future con structive work under whatever plan Congress may adopt.
 Fear Of 5-Year Plan.
 There has also bePn soma S11poas ton by the Director General of lack of cooperation by the corporations. and that this is one of the difficulties in the situation that might be cured under a 5-year extension of time. On the contrary, I believe that 5-year extension would make the companies hold back because of fear that the properties would never be restored to the owners. There may have been some difference of opinion, which is not unnatural, in the very large and complicated problems presented to the Director General and to those of the corporation charged with the duty of protecting the property rights for which they are responsible.
 In his proclamation of December 26, 1917, the President said: 'fBut nothing herein contained, ex- press or implied, or hereafter done or suffered hereunder, shall be deemed in any way to impair the rights of the stockholders, bond holders, creditors, and other persons having interests in said systems of transportation, or in the profits there of, to receive just and adequate com pensation for the use and control of