The Washington times., 1920-08-02
T0L|FT ROADS
OUT OF DEBT
Rehabilitation and Ample Credit
Provided, Consensus of
Officials Opinions.


provaI OF the award OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission allowing the
railroads to increase their freight and
passenger rates was expressed today
by railroad presidents and other trans
portation authorities.
The decision makes IL possible for
the roads to rehabilitate themselves
and to provide amply for credit it
was declared.
The following are some OF the COM
ments:
ny FREDERICH ID. UNDERWOOD,
President Of the Erie Railroad.
'-rhe award of the commission will
10 far toward stabilizjng all business
1t is the sequel OF the constructive
work of the last Congress, a verifica-
tion OF the physical value OF the rail-
roads, Good crops, with a demand for
AL we raise from and dig out of the
ground. will make good times"
ny THOMAS DEWITT CUYLER.
chairman OF the Association OF Rail-
wsy Executives.
'"The Interstate Commerce Commits
/ sion has taken a broad, statesmanlike
view of the railroad problem and has
established a basis of rates that will
, enable the roads to re-establish their
credit and build up a system of trans
!
be efficient and permanent"
by SAMUEL REA,
I President of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road.
81 have just heard of the rate deci-
sion, and OF course ! could not discuss
the matter without first carefully
studying the new rates allowed. 1t is
big thing. At first glance it looks
\ as though the Interstate Commerce
) Commission had taken a very broad
7 view Of the situation and had tried to
,, do everything it could to help out the
railroads"
ny AGNEw II. DICE,
President Of the Philadelphia and
Reading Railroad.
whatever the feeling may be as to
the method, there must be a general
agreement as to the necessity for ad-
ditionai revenue. The Interstate Com
merce Commission is to be commended
for its prompt, constructive action.
This must mean a restoration of credit
! to the railroads and will enable them
to'provide equipment and other facili-
! ties to properly handle the business
| Of the country and will undoubtedly
! lead to further great industrial devel-
opment."
BY RALPH PETERS.
President OF the Long Island Railroad.
while + can't discuss the situation
accurately until 1 know just how we
stand, l do know that the award is
such as to make us very hopeful. 1t
. will help materially. The new rates.
; which will go into effect on or before
September !, should bring in about
S5,0O0,0OO additional revenue yearly
to the Long Island railroad. So far
as l can see now, the decision of the
commission is highly satisfactory to
us. We need great deal of addi-
Itional equipment to take care of the
| rapidly growing sections on Long
| Island, which is throwing a heavy
strain upon us. The new rates will
allow us to carry out the plans We
have had in mind for a long time, but
which have been impossible because
! we were losing money.
For some time we have been run
ming behind. I should say to the
amount of about $1,000, 900 in the last
| six months. The new rates, however,
| should put us back on much the same
footing as before the war. We now
| want to cooperate with the city and
| State to provide ample facilities to-
take care of freight and passenger
service. Few people in New York
/ understand how rapidly the territory
/ between Long Island City and Brook
lyn is being developed. Until the sit
uation is reviewed with care I do not
know just how much We can improve
our system, but the outlook is excel
lent.
The great thing now is for en-
,ployes to pull together with the execu-
tives. The men have been given sub
istantial increases in pay, and / am
glad to see them get it. but now we
are hoping that they will give service
and handle the traffic efficiently"
ny JULIUS KRUTTsCHNiTT,
President OF the Southern Pacific Rail
road.
"The decision, particularly that part
relating to special treatment OF the
two divisions into which the commits
sion has divided the Western group
will require close analysis to deter
mine its effect on the Southern Pacific,
whose lines are embraced in both di-
visions. 1t Is impossible to do this in
a short time and in the absence of
statistics"