The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-11
EMPLOYEES ASK US.
TO CONTROL ROADS
BrothcrhoOds Favor Direct
Government Agency, Says
A. b. Garretson.
WORKERS VIEWS CHANGED
Guarantees Under Private
Ownership Inc1uitable,
Senators Told.
WORKERS VIEWS CHANGED

WASHINGTON. Feb. 1O---Some direct
Governmental agency. working not for
profit but 10 furnish transportation Mt
cost, was advocated to-day by the four
railroad brotherhoods as their solution
OF the railroad problem.
A. r. Garretson, president OF the Or
der of Railway Conductors. speaking
Tor the organizations before the Senate
Interstate Commerce Committee, said
they had been won over to Government
ownership by experience under Govern
mont operation and that all Endorsed in
principle the plan piusrn,eu "s ..enh
r. Plumb last week, though they had
pot considered it's details.
Mr.. Garretson declared II was foolish
10 think the threads Of social life could
be picked up now where they were bro
ken by war and that II remained to be
demonstrated whether the forces loosed
b.. the war were to be used for good or
evil. He declared that the financial and
operating sides OF the railroad ques-
t3n were practically one and that the
talk of Congress was 10 decide whether
thh two functions could be best per-
fotmed by private or Government own
srphip.
Warren s. Stone. head Of the engi-
neers, W. @. Lee OF the trainmen and
Timothy Shea OF the flremen. Mr., Car
rcfson said. were private ownership adj
vocal ties until the experience of Govern.
1nent operation was tried. He explained
they stlll advocate private ownership in
general, but Government ownership as
applied to the railroad industry.
lie tho 1t 1t was "the germ Of what
Government ownership might be II per-
fected" that had caused their change of
mind.
Opposed to Guarantee.
Much OF Mr.. Garretson's time on the
stand was occupied with theoretical
discussion Of rates and returns He op-
posed any plan for guaranteeing a re-
turn to the railroads under private own
erhhip. saying 1t was az legitimate 10
guarantee every other line of business
IS the railroads. He declared that II
the Government became liable for a
deficit in the railroads income then the
Government also must be a participant;
In, their profits.
"All plans presented here recognize
the principle of Government ownership
an demanding the guarantee of returns
he said.
Mr.. Garretson said he never had beer
abls to determine how to get all the
roads on an equality In rates. seeing
that each differed from the other ir
distances between common points, or
which rates are based, and In capital
ization.
He said he did not suppose member.
Of the committee had played poker. bu
wanted to suggest that Government
ownership would Jackpot the Who'll,
question and let a universal rate take
cars of all the roads.
Benator Underwood (Alabama) asked
sc! MT Garretson approved budget Il
enable weak roads to serve the public
aud the witness replied that he did !
Congress decided to return the roads Il
pfivate ownership.
whether the roads are retained o.
returned" Mr. Garretson said. 9Th,
very essence of regulation and rate fix
ing has got to go back to valuation
why should poster.ty be buriened will
o constantly growing account adding 4
the capitalization of the roads. whei
enact methods exist for putting rate:
on Q cost basis?"
southerners Fear Ruin.
Charles e. Cottrell Of Atlanta. repre-
eenting the Southern Traffic League. tod
tho committee many Southern business
men would be forced into bankruptcy ri
the wholesale revision of freight rate;
initiated under the arbitrary power o
NQo WAS tOIllllutu
In urging that Congress refuse 10 eX
tend the period of Government contro
Mr.. Cottrell said it was proposed to es
tablish mileage rates on cighty-n!n'
Southern commodities. for which he de
clared there was no justification.
The Railroad Administration has beer
altogether too generous in the dlsposi
ton OF wage increases" he said. wv
want adequate rates paid railroad EN-
ployees. but the rate accorded negr
labor has caused anomalous and peculia
situations without any corresponding i'm
provement in the living conditions OF tn
negro In numerous instances negr
laborers are paid more than their whit
supervisors"
He stated that the Southern Wholesal
Grooers Association had asked him to an
nounce that in referendum of Its 40
members more than IS per cent. desire
a prompt return OF the roads TO privat
management because of the poverty o
service" under Government operation.