Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-09-04
YOU CAN DO ANYTHING
WHEN THE MOTIVE is GOOD
This Is Why the Government Can Con.
soidate Railroads When the Finan-
caI Bandits Couldn't

cia Bandits Couldn't
NEVER was it better illustrated that
~ the quality of an act depends on its
motive than in the Cummins plan for
| solving the railroad problem.
The outstanding feature of the plan is
! the consolidation of all the railroads Of
! the country into twenty or twenty-five
| systems operating in the same number
! of Districts
When the railroad managers tried to
bring about such consultations in the
past they were attacked in the courts on
the charge of violating the antitrust
laws No one disputed the benefits of the
consultations to the railroad companies.
and it was admitted that the public serv-
ice might be improved; but the improve
mcnt Of the public service was not the
motive of the would-be Consoidators.
They regarded railroads not as transpor-
taton agencies, but as prcteNts for issu-
ing shares Of stock to be sold to the pub
lie. Their prime business was not carry
ing passengers and. freight but speculat-
ing on the stock exchanges.
The railroads today are suffering in
public esteem because of the legacy left
by the financial bandits who overcaptal
lied weak roads and unlOaded the stock
upon unsuspecting investors or played
football with it upon the exchanges.
The Cummins plan is devised primarily
in the public interest. The railroads in
the various districts are to be consolidated
,,.;tI r.,
ceed their value, and this capitalization is
to be fixed under the scrutiny of a fed
Cral board. Whatever objection may be
raised against it. the primary purpose
Of the plan is to improve the railroad
service for the benefit of the people.
Whether it will work in that way is an
other question.
The Cummins bill also prohibits strikes
and lockouts. 1t is assumed that the pub
lie has a vital interest in the regular
operation of the roads and that anything
which will interfere with that regular
operation is to be prevented. This as
sumption is we'll founded. The great
cities would be reduced to starvation
within week if the railroads which sup
ply them with food were tied up by a
general strike. No groups of men should
have the power to take the country by the
throat and hold it until their grievances
are settled Some other way to redress
wrongs must be found
The plan suggested for keeping the
roads in operation is compulsory arb
tration Of all disputes. A board contain
ing an equal number of representatives
of the employees and of the owners of the
roads is to consider disputes about wages
and hours of work. If the board cannot
agree, then a federal board is to decide,
and its decision is final.
This is just as much in the interest Of
the workers as of the public, for it pre-
vents the waste of strike and insures to
the workers continuous employment
under conditions which a fair-mnded
commission decides to be just. If any
man is displeased with the award he may
leave his employment, but b" may not
conspirc with others to leave stimuli
tanoousIy. nor may he prevent others
from taking the place which he vacatcs.
The workers are still further protected
by provision that they shall be repre-
spntcd bv two members on the board of
directors of each company, and also by
provision that one-haIf of the earnings
above a fair return on the investment
shall be used for their bettermcnt.
The stockholders Of the roads are pro-
tcctcd by a provision that the rates shall
be fixed so a. to yield fair return upon
the money invested. They are also to be
allowed period of seven years in which
to bring about the consultations of their
properties into the separate groups of
railroads in the different parts of the
country.