The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-08-06
RAILROAD
SITUATION
MENAC|N.G
SHOPMEN EVERYWHERE
THROWING DOWN TOOLS
Business Men of the Country
Vote SO Percent Againt
u. S. Ownership


Of a railroad strike continues to spread
throughout tho country despite the
efforts or the organized labor heads 10
hold the mon in check until authorta'
tive and official strike votes can be
taken.
Shopmrn everywhere throwing down
their tools ia premature Strikr, IL WAS
reported were threatening national IN
dustry, because without them thc rail-
roads equipment cannot be Kept IN
usable order ut tho most necessary or
all timcs--crop moving season.
Above that huvcrcd tho threat of an
even more SERIOUS labor situation. tho
demand e all tn" organized railroad in
dustry that the profits of The business
be ovcrhauled to retire private capita'
and create Il new partit" control.
Report began coming in today. saying
that unless railroad equipment can ho
kept in running order. mills. mines and
factories will be threatened with clos
ing. # was reported that there arc
moro than "00On0 cars now out OF com
mission.
Against q. 8. Ownership.
Formal announcement was made to-
night Of the final iabulationS in the
referendum conducted among business
mon by TN" chamber Of cnmmcrc" OF the
United States on IN" question or govern
mont ownership Of railroads. More
than % prrccnt of IN" vote tho official
announcement said. was against it.
Meanwhile threats OF hundreds o'
/ thousands of railroad employees 10 20 0r
strike to fore" higher wages To meet th'
high cost of living were reiterated
From many parts of the country today
camr rcpnrls that striking Shopmcn re
fused 10 return 10 work. despite the rae
. that Their action was denounced as H.
: legal hv the cx"ruiIv" council Of the Sin
! shop crafts Srrik" ballots were mailed
out from tho American Federation ot
| Labor for taking an official vote as u
whether the 500 600 Shopmcn shall wall
out 10 obtain their demands and expires:
! their d isappruval "f Presidents wilson:
! refer, nee Of the railroad wage question
| to congress.
Demands also are being made by 45O
! 600 clerks. freight handlers. and station
, employees. Director Hines WAS TO haNr
discussed their problems today. with J
! j. Forester. grand president Of the unioi
! hut other business intcrIrrr"d and IL
| conference will be held tomorrow.
| Announcement Of the vote Of 30 per
! crnmcnt ownership. was accompanies
by tho following explanation OF tn
! reasons actuating the decision:
Q l--l'Edrr government ownership III
; development uf railroad facilities woul
t depend upon congressional appr"pria
, lions which would prevent the antic!r;t
, liun uf the transportation needs or tn
! country. Appropriations would not haE'
to be made III the amount and nj tn
i. TIM" needed 10 iESur" ad"Guat" develop
: mcnt Of the railroads. Political CnnSid
: CratlOnS might also control the amoun
Of appropriations and the objects 10
which they were nad".
TO acquire tn" railroads tho gov
I crnmcnt would hay" la pl"de" its cr"dI
. 70" Is tn II. .n0N ON6 0OnS Of dollars nj
time ,rh"n other larS" i.nauc,cring mus
hc done. 1t would be difficult for th
government Ia dispose "f tn" s"Curitt"
required IO pur, has" tho railroads am
il would l." necessary for IN" govern
mont to secure from 500 HOn.hhn 10 !.
0h0. .000.n00 Of dollars capital rach year
If the g0vrrnm'nt wcr" {" aSSum" IN
burden oi financing tn" railroadS nj tn
present time when III" war debt is 8
large IT'S interest rate would n"ccSShr
lily be as high. il ne, higher than th'
rate NJ which corporations could Sc
. cur" capital.
q Government operation IS seldom.
ever. a% efficient aS corporate" manage
mcnt. Competitions tn. incentive l.
efficiency and progress ~ private on
icrpris"S is absent from tho govern
m"ut administration Uf affairs. lndl
vidual initiative - less. hurrau"r'iti
methods are NOR, characteristic and ih'
services rendered arc less proErrssivei.
Efficient.
4-While tho government would pre-
sumab!v select ,ff,rcrS and cmplnyc!
nv mrana Of "ffIC.,ury tests. p"llilCA
influences would almost certainly h
gwen weight IN sClr"ting mcn for Off
Cisl positions
I---l'nl"SS thu government adnntct
the policy of fINIng lnw rates and fare
with tn" n;"nt"n that any resulting
deficit from operations should he place.
as an increased burden "i laACs up"i
tn" general public. rates and far"
would he higher under government thai
under private operation. Under govern
nrrt operation expenses rise in r"latio'
to income and the charges imposed h!
the government. If Il deficit - I" b
avoided. must h" higher than th"s
which il would hc necessary 10 permit
railroad corporations to make.
= six. Tn" political effect of govern
mcnt ownership and operation Of raj!
roads in In" United States might T.
serious. There ar now about 3O0,0"
civil employees OF The government. Tn
adGi,i"n 10 tho publ" services Of 2.O0'
600 railroad employees. the majority o
whom are voters would constitute
force Of about 100000 government on
ployrs interested in controlling the pol
icy of tho government as regards wages
hours and conditions of service. Sue
IA bady OF employees might easily rN"r
: Cisr a controlling influence upon stat
and national politics"
! Discussion Of tho railroad questio
ran through much of the days debat
in congress.