Evening journal., 1920-04-28
Uncle Ted's Bedtime Stories
A Railroad Strike and Lost Money

Grafton. believe it would be better
TO have disputes settled that way
than TO have a strike that would not
only stop the cattle trains and leave
The cattle and sheep 10 go hungry
and thirsty. but also keep people In
cities from getting food and clothing
and fuel"
"The railroads aren's being run by
the government now. are they?" asked
Jack.
NO, Jack. You surely remember
me telling you an about that. They
were turned back 10 their owners
many weeks ago. But that really
brings me back 20 the story ] wanted
90 tell you about tonight. That Is
about the great amount Of money
that 10 cost the United states to run
the railroads.
How much was it?" asked Ruth.
The total loss 10 the government
OF the United States due TO the gov
ernment running the RAILROADS has
been placed at more than si,i29,-
100000"
Gee" exclaimed Jack. that's an
awful lot Of money"
1t certainly is a lot Of money,
Jack. This amount has been estimated
by the appropriations committee OF
the Ho0se Of Representatives sand u
includes the amount Of S225. 600 900
which was estimated as the guaran-
tees TO the railroads by the wording
Of the transportation law. The actual
loss 20 The government during the 26
months OF government control was
placed by the committee at S9Oi 100000
and the committee mentioned the
fact that since the government had
loaned the roads 1862 100000. the big
ger part Of which went 10 weak lines
TO Keep thelQ from going bankrupt
during government control, a lot OF
this money will never be recovered.
"Now right here is a point which
shows again how the Republican
Congress is saving the peoples money
/ Director General Of Railroads Hines
who came into that place after Mr.
McAdOO quit, asked Congress for $780,
100000 with which 10 finish up the
work OF the Railroad Administration
The committee cut that amount down
1 10 S300.00OO00 by cutting the tOlal
s90,000000, and suggesting that the
United states Treasury be told q
buy S90000,00O worth OF Liberty
Bonds owned by the Railroad Admin.
! istratiOn,"
"Did the committee say why the,
/ let them have less money! askct
Jack.
"The committee explained. Jack
| that 10 was because the transportation
law which has already been passed
/ gives $50 100000 with which tO set
| tie claims against the government
/ which o. The result Of government
| control n read you what the com
miitee .hds 90 say about these lOsse
in its report Listen: Clearly IL wa
the purpose Of he director general o
| the railroads 10 give the impression
that S90i 100000 would cover the tOia
losses sustained by the governmen
during Federal control nor should j
be Inferred that 1858 100000 shown "a
the additional loss the govcrnmen
will suffer because OF Federal con
troll. is the only loss which the gov
ernment will sustain. because of th
Federal control and operation OF ih
railroads.
THAT shows us. kiddies. that lh
exact losses cannot be dscOVere
until all the affairs Of the railroad ad
ministration are settled. which ma
d not be until March OF next year. Tha
the losses will be more Is certai
and II should teach us that the gov
, ernment cannot afford 10 run th
81 roads"
Anyway. II lost lot Of none
for the government and the peOpl
didn't iti" was Jacks final cOmmen