The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1920-07-30
WASHINGTON LETTER
ROADS ClOCCINC TRADE ARTERIES
q. COST COUNTRY MORE THAN DID WAR

Washington, D. Gin a brilliant
editorial this week, Labor, the organ
of the Plumb Plan league, reviews
the railroad crisis.
1T is impossible" it says, ITO cx-
aggerate the seriousness Of the rail-
road situation. The business Of the
nation is threatened with paralysis.
In fact, the slowinX-up process has
already reached the point where even
Senator Cummins admit, that The
shortcomings If private ownership
are costing the American people
more each day than did the war with
Germany when that great conflict WAS
at its height.
"The representatives Of the steel
industry have notified the interstate
commerce commission that unless
they can secure cars it will he neces-
sary for them to shut down their
plants. They have already exhausted
their storage capacity and it is use
less for them to continue operations,
as they can neither ship nor store
their products.
The great manufacturing districts
Of New England are unable to Sc
cure coal with which TO produce pow
er, or cars in which to larry their out
put to market.
1.-THE farmers Of the West can not
move their crops.
"Similar stories come from every
section Of the country. Business is
good, hut farmers, merchants and
manufacturers can not reach their
customesr because the arteries of
comemrce are clogged.'
1t goes on to point out how much
better the roads were run by the
governmental, even under wartime
difficulties. and demands that the
government resume control and oper-
alton as the only way to save the
situation this summer.
"Private ownership has railed,'
says the spokesman Of the "aiIroad
workers. at is either government
ownership or commercial disaster that
faces us, and those in authority should
not be slow in making THEN choice.
COOPERATIVE SHIPS
Into New York harbor has steamed
the first comparatively owned and
operated merchant vessel to dock on
the North American continent. She
is the Crema, one of the five big
freighters purchased Of the Italian
government by the Consor%io Cara
baldi. the remarkable new co-oper:,-
tive association formed by the 8! 900
seamen and officers in the italian
marine. One of her sister ships, the
Belluna, landed at Buenos .Ayrcs a
few days ago amid a ,le,tcning sal
ute from harbor craft and from thous-
ands of organized long~Shorcmen and
sailors of that metropolis of the
southern continent. Because she flew
red flag with white letters on it
newspaper correspondents cabled to
New York and London that she was a
"Bolshevist" ship. The Italian am
bassador in Washington authorized in
explanation Of her character.
1.-The Italian government sold the
five ships, each Of 5000 tons, to the
organized seamen and officers at pre-
war prices, on condition that the gov
eminent should have cargo space in
these ships on their return voyages
to Italy at pre-~ar freight rates. On
the outward trips the vessels carried
only cooperative and private car
goes, at current rates. They charge
current rates also for all but the. gov
eminent freight that is brought
home.
The Consorzio Galabaldi elects its
officers each year and from them Sc
cures discipline which makes indus
trial disputes in the cooperative fleet
impossible. 1t is so strong that none
but its members may be employed on
the private ships flying the Italian
comermcial flag. Each month a per
capita tax on all men employed in
the merchant marine is paid into the
treasury of the association for the
purchase of ships. 1t is expected
that five more will be bought before
the end of this year. The tax and
the profits of the fleet are expected to
yield about $l,5OO,OOO month, which
will be reinvested except for a re-