The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1919-05-29

railroad administration is cne which,
as already indicated, brings no sur
prise to those familiar with all that
has passed since the railway control
measure was jammed through Con-
gress under pressure from the White
House without due opportunity for
its careful formulation It is fire.
quently said that the deficit is due
to increases in wages of railway en-
ploYees. While it is true that large
increases have. been made in wages
of railway employees. this is only a
part of the facts. When the railway
control measure was before Congress
yarious members Of the Senate and
House pointed out that is was defec-
tive and that it provided a plan of
compensation for the use of the roads
that wss neither equitable among
the roads themselves nor fair to the
public. But all efforts to change the
administration program failed. More
over, it is we'll understood that. the
railroad administration has not hand
led its business with anything like
the economy which the public has the
right to expect.
Can't Make High Wages 1.-THE Goat"
In other words, it will not do for
the railroad administration to shield
itself behind the assertion that the
troubles in which it has enmeshed
itself are due to increases in wages
and to seek to make it appear that
those who are criticising the faults
Of the railroad administration are
opposed to the payment of good
wages to the employees.
The truth is that not one of the
men in Congress who are giving in
telligent attention to the solution
of the railroad issue has any other
thought than that the employees Of
the roads are to be we'll paid for
their services; not only that, but it
is realized that up-to-date methods
III respect of the treatment accorded
labor on the great transportation
systems Of the country must be fol-
lowed. This is all the more true be-
cause the men i'll Congress who are
going to be responsible for the new
railroad and Interstate commerce
legislation fully understa.'d that m
matter what particular formula or
plan is finally adopted for dealing
ilh the roads, the old day is pas.
and gone and the government from
this time forth is to be in closer and
stricter control over transportation
lines than it was in the pre-war
period
High Rates Lessen Traffic.
With respect to the impression
given out by the railroad admins
tration that the first three months of
| the year were period when business
Vas comparatively dull, there is this
lact also to be born in mind: That
lie tendency of high rates combined
| i.h unsatisfactory service has been
} keep business from the roads. In
G yDiAi0n Of some experts who have
ttched the siJuatiul, one sure ef
u, Of high freight rates, added tt
Unreliable seryic., has been to cause
he public to turn an increasinc
amount of-its carrying business owe.
to the parcels post.
esentative Mondell, the new
.eader of the House. in speaking to-
lay of the manner in which the rail-
Dads were running behind, said;
"The disclosure OF the enormou,
deficit accontuatCs the feeling ii
congress and on the part OF the pub
| .ic that the roads should be takeT
out of the hands OF the railroad ad
ministration and restored to thei
owners Just as quickly as broad anC
constructive legislation can be en-
acted. The prospect of still highe
rates will add to the public demand
for action, unquestionably, Con
gress will address itself to the sOlu
ton of this great problem of wha
to do about the railroads and in m
oninion will effect solution Whicl