The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-06-18
Director General of Rail
roads Asks Them to Prac-
= tice Economies
MONTHLY DEFICIT
OF S62,5OO,000
Increased Rates Will Be Necessary IN
less Effective Work and Careful
Handling of Materials Are Given
Aid the Government.


NEW YORK, June 1S.-A letter, ad-
dressed to the officers and employees of
the railroads under federal control, ask
ing their aid in redoubling their work
and to economize in the use of materials,
fuel and other supplies owing to the
heavy deficit incurred through the
operation of the roads, and also on ac-
count of the increased wages, was sent
out yesterday by Director General of
Railroads, Walker D. Hines.
Mr.. Hines in his letter also says that
these deficits, if they are not eliminated
by economizing, will eventually have to
be offset by increased transportation
rates.
Mr.. Hines in his letter said:
The increased payroll cost, due to
improved wages and working conditions,
and the increased cost of material and
supplies are now resulting, in connection
with the falling off in business, in the
United States railroad administration
mourning heavy deficits in railroad oper-
| ations
! For the first four months of this
year these deficits. after deducting the
rental due the railroad company, were
! about $3.50 100000, or at the rate of
| So, 800 600 per month. This critical con-
dition makes it imperative not only
that costs shall not increase, but also
| that every effort shall be make to help
! the government through every reason
able effort to economic and realize
| greater efficiency.
"These deficits. so far as they can
not be eliminated through greater econo.
mics and through increased business
will eventually have to be offset by in
creased transportation rates, which all
i should endeavor to avoid
81 ask every officer and every en-
ploye to Eedouble his efforts to do eff.
fective work, to economic in the use OF
railroad materials, fuel and other sup
plies, and to use great care not to iniurt
aquipmantb toOlsH nffine~ furniture o.
property being transported by the rail
road and for which payment must bt
made if injury occurs. and further thar
this to try to encourage others to do The
| same.
''Please remember that if you SHOULD
fail in any of these respects to do what
YOU reasonably could and ought to d,
| .f'Ai NtChiA itiA if-t't ,iHittNtSoaiN tbNA IL
on the government. This is true becaus,
it is the government which has to bea
the loss if there is one, or which will re
ceive the profit if any is earned,
/ ''Do not wait for the other fellow t
begin this improvement but begin your
self Do not decline to help becaus,
some other fellow is not helping; turf
I in and help, and keep on setting tn,
other fellow good example.
You are interested in the great
movement for the improvement of tn,
condition of the individual worker. You
can aid in this great movement, through
efficiency and saving in reducing tn,
cost of railroad operation, because there
by you help to keep down transporta
tion rates, and thereby you help to keel
down the cost of living. An increas'
in rates viii give occasion for an in
crease in prices of what the public con
sumes and that will mean new cycle o.
increasing still further the cost of liv
: ing. 1t is to the interest of every man
woman, and child in this country tina
this shall be avoided just as far us pos
| sible. =