Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-02-28
uAII EXECUTIVES EMPRESS
APPROVAL. UE NIfM LAW


NEW YORK. Feb. a7.--Approval OF
he railroad bill gnow awaiting action
~ the President. was expressed at
mcot!ng here today OF executives rep
reseniinG approximately 30 per cent of
;he couniry's railways, who discussed
the provisions OF the bin IL connection
ship on March /.
In a statement issued at the close
.: ;he meeting the executives predict
ei that the proposed legislation would
bee successful II tile credit OF the car
r.crs Is made sufficient to enable them
10 perform their public duties"
According 10 the executives, the rail-
ways are approximately i've years be-.
lind IN operating equipment as i
whole. and sufficient c.cdit must first
he established before the carriers could
begin the task OF overcoming that de-
felt. II Was estimated that the roads
are three years behind in passenger
ears. two years behind In locomotives.
one year behind IN freight cars and
TWO years behind in Pullman cars
Service Ia he On Trial.
With the resumption OF private con-
bill every agency connected with the
operation of railways is upon trial.
me !,rna s,atemen, sid It continued:
parture on the part OF Congress in it's
policies with respect 10 regulating the
instrumentalities Of interstate. com
ION may exist as TO the adequacy, tho
'csirabili.y or the validity, of some OF
the provisions. there must be universal
recognition OF the high and patriotic
purpose OF those in Congress chiefly
responsible for the legislation. They
were undoubtedly controlled by an
and workable method OF regulation
under which the netrumcntalities of
commerce. upon which all business
must depend, shall! be supported and
protected in their effort TO establish
and maintain an adequate and efficient
system OF transportation.
The government policy OF the fu
ture viii. no doubt. depend upon the
success OF the experiment now made.
..,,, Enters Upon .Tcst Period"
por hG ae, oi tsGf is abGpt ISo to enter
system 1t establishes the credit of the
ciarriers is made sufficient TO enable
them TO perform their public duties. the
LEGISLATION will. by universal conccs-
SION, be success. II, on the other hand.
such credit is not established. the leg
Isiht;on Will he a failure.
In addition to the act. the Interstate
commerce Commission, the several
states commissions, the labor unions
and the carriers themselves are all on
.'1'he Interstate Commerce Commits
sion, is Oh trial, because the powers
conferred upon that body by this bill
that il will become largely responsiblc
for the success or failure OF the system
Of regulation.
The state. commissions are on trial.
because IL they hold back and refuse
TO cooperate with the Interstate Com
ncrcc Commission in establishing va
harmonious system of rates to apply
70 both state and Interstate commerce
of the same carrier, they will intcrnosc
an obstacle in tho way of tho success
Of the system. for which public oDiu-
ion will hold them responsible.
Labor. Too. lis on Trial.
"The labor unions are on trial. be-
cause the government itself has Gre
ated an official agency for tho fair and
equitable adjustment OF all grievances
and OF all controversies as to wages
and living conditions. and IT, in de-
fiancc of the conclusions thus officially
reached. the labor organizations. un-
Justly and contrary to public opinion
interrupt tho orderly and continuous
movement Of interstate commerce. upon
which the welfare of the whole public
depends, they cannot expect TO be sus
tained by the people, to whose Will
at last all must bow.
"The carriers are on trial. because
an effort has been made to extend to
them help OF substantial character
in tho performance Of their public
duties, and public opinion will hold
them to strict accountability for the
idelity and efficiency with which these
,iufios are performed"