The Sun and the New York herald., 1920-08-01
JOHN BULL GETS
RAIL DEFICIT AT.
VACATION TIME
Sir Eric Geddes Forces Pay
ment Before the Govern
ment Returns Roads.
AROCSES MUCH PROTEST
Twice Rate Of Fares of Pre-.
War Days Goes Into Effect
This Week.

Special Gable Despatch 10 TIVE suN AND New
YoRK HERALD. Copyright. 1890, bp TuE sun
AND NEw YoRK HERALD.
LONDON, July 3l.---Britain Is witness
ing to-day the spectacle Of John Bull
fast shedding his cloak OF conserva-
tism in an endeavor to defeat what he
considers an attack on his breeches
pocket.
While money was easy John took
things as they came and except for a
slight grumble or two, refused to stir
himself. He permitted the debasement
Of the currency as a matter OF course
and went along his way without con-
sidering the possible consequences.
To-day he is beginning to wake up to
the effects and to realize that he has
now to remedy at the expense of his
pocket the neglects of the past years.
During the war when money was plen-
tiful as far as paper was concerned,
John Bull quoted freely the axioms OF
the political economy school of the Vic
torian period except the little warning
which appears to have dropped into the
text books by accident TO the effect that
paper money lends itself to debasement.
and he sold his goods in the best mar
ket and with a rakeoff Of 40 per cent. on
excess profits, thought himself In clover
and shrugged his shoulders II any men
ton was made Of the possibility of hav-
ing to refund the greater part of his
share for the purpose of restoring pros
perity to a world shattered by war
John Bull had the first roustng shake
when Austin Chamberlain, Chancellor
Of the ESchequer, maintained the ex-
cess profits duty at 60 per cent. In the
budget for the year. He made the best
kick possible. but in vain, and must pay.
The second shake touches more
vital part OF the body: IN fact 1t has
made him tingle all over. All classes
OF the community from the peer TO the
peasant have been caught In the toll.
Sir Eric Geddes, Minister Of Transport.
Ia going to put his hand in Johns
breeches pocket and collect directly
from the public their share in the deficit
OF the railroads. This will entail the
payment OF at least twice the amount
OF fares collected in the pre-war days,
and a corresponding increase OF freight
rates, and John Bull is badly hazed in
consequence.
Working costs and material are sky
high and the Government is due TO re-
turn the railroads to their former
managers within a few months and the
Treasury is not willing to provide the
deficit from State funds for the purpose
of completing the bargain made with
the railways executive committee.
Therefore Sir Eric finds 1t necessary to
raise the whole of the sum before the
becomes due. And John Bull
must part with his share whether he
likes the plan or otherwise.
The frst week in August, when the
increase goes into effect, witnesses the
fitting from town of three-quarters OF
the population for their annual vaca-
tions and every one Of these people Will
be caught by the increased costs OF
travel. They showed under their Mem
bers of Parliament with letters of pro-
test. the newspapers published columns
Of protests, some from the standpoint
that the Government should be informed
of the feeling Of the population and
others as a political stunt pure and sim
pie and a factor devised to make the
position of the Ministry and the Cabinet
untenable.