The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1920-08-13
BY Charles NJ. Kelley

BY Charles M Kelley
Ia an interview given to the Asso-
ciated Press, at Marion, Ohio, a few
days ago, Senator Arthur B. Cum
Minis, Of Iowa, author Of the trans
portaton bill that returned the rail
roads to private control, said The
inability Of the railroads to do the
business Of the country is costing the
country every day more than the Ger
man war cost the people any day"
1t must have required considerable
courage for Senator Cummins to
make that damaging admission When
the senate was flooded with protests
against the enactment of the bill that
had been written after the dictation
Of Wall street, it was Senator Cum
MINIS who defended it as the most
constructive" bit Of legislation that
had been considered in a half century
System Broken Down
Yet, in less than four months, un-
der the operation Of the Cummins-
Esch law, the transportation system
has broken down, slow paralysis is
creeping up and down the arteries Of
commerce, and the nation is facing
what may easily be the most disas-
trous panic in recent history.
Railroad operation constitutes a di-
rect tax on the national treasury Of
more than a hundred million dollars
month. This sum is being paid to
security holders pursuant to the pro
vision guaranteeing the railroads net
return equalling the rental paid dur
ing the period of federal control 1t
is large sum, and will eventually
lead us into national bankruptcy
Large as is this sum, it is drop
in the bucket compared with the losses
that are being sustained by the pub
lie-losses that cannot be computed in
dollars and cents, because many of
them are Of an intangible quality But
they are reckoned in closed factories
and stoppage of production, loss Of
wages by workers who are in idleness,
loss of food that is rotting in cars,
warehouses and the ground; loss of IN
terest that is being paid by farmers
on last years crops, which remain IN
warehouses because cars to move them
are not available.
Workers Idle
Hundreds Of thousands of workers
are idle or working part time because
merchandise cannot be transported.
New England faces the most serious
situation in many years. The Amer
lean Wooden Company has suspended
10000 workers and it is predicted that
in two or three weeks the number of
idle men will be not less than 100000,
while 100000 others will be working
reduced time.
The steel industry is hard hit by
the railroads. The yards are piled
high with finished products that can
not be moved because the railroads
have solemnly warned the interstate
commerce commission that unless
there is relief in two weeks they will
be compelled to close down and throw
their workers out in the streets.
Coal Famine is Feared
New England suffers a multiplicity
of ills. 1t cannot secure steam coal
and it cannot secure raw materials
or the transport of its finished pro-
ducts. What little coal is being trans
ported there is piled up on the docks
awaiting shipment to Europe Gov
etous coal operators are indifferent &c
the sufferings of the nation and are
profiteering at the expense Of Euro
pean nations that are bidding as hlgf
as $23 for coal.
The production of coal has increas
ed over last year, but there is Ia
mentable shortage. So long as eX
port is permitted the situation vii
become progressively worse 1t /
contenoed by New England manufac
turers that the government shoul'
embargo coal until domestic needs ar
met. Textile profiteers are not salts
fed that the coal dealer shall shar
in the "easy pickings" that are avail
] able to all men who lack consciences
New England is not an isolate
sufferer. The same conditions exis
! north. south. east and west. Delegate