The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-11-30
Fundamental Changes Urged
In Railroad Admins tratiOn
Judge Anderson Asks Interstate
Commission 20 Prevent Ruin
alton Of Industries
FINANCING NEEDS REFORS
Labor II Asked TO Alter Policy
Towards Attiiicial Stand
ardixati0n of Wages

FMWwHHMHW3
BOSTON. Nov. 81 - Fundamental
changes IN me administration of the
fniions railroads wers urRef today
by rsderai tud9e George w Ander-
son IN an address a conferences called
- me Joint New England commission
qn foreign and domestic rof mefce 20
l.ka steps toward united action 90 IN
dnce ne Interstate Commerce com-
mission 10 save the railroads and IN.
dgstries from ruinatlou4 threatened
~ the siieged financial condition of The
roads.
Judge Anderson denounced "the ab-
sufd scheme of paylng ihe same scale
~ vases al over the country regard
lrxa az liying conditions and 90 the
amount of work required of az men
holdln9 a lob carrying the same name.
Hs urgsd that standard wages be- aDan-
Hooed aln ne interests ~ the working
men themselves. and characterized as
absurd the labor unions proposal TO-
secure A Standardization of working
conditions
labor must alter lis policy In thlsI
matter he aaiA aor TIE public must
eompsi ths railroad labor board 20 alter
H II ia menace % the public inter
esta"
htawo Anderson who is former
member ~ the interstate Commerce
commission and ~ the Massachusetts,
public service commission. told the
conference mat rallrosding has been
s,nbualneMsllke because the bookkeep.
ln9 "a ths railroads IA the mosi elab
srsts and expensive and a. the same
Tine ne most inadequate mud eenef
4lly lhe worst u4ed ia any gFeat buss-
neaa In ihe world
s.rhare ls No real cost accounting IN
railroad hookkeeping. Judge Ander-
s0n continued. ne follows mat mOsl
q eur railroad men do not know when
they are getting a new dollar Tor -
nld one. They never WIN until q rad
ioai change n ths bookkeeping meth |
DDS under which maintenance and de-
probation. Including obsolete equip
msnt are Incorporated Into annual ee-
eonnta. These are bat illustrative De
feris In q system generally bad"
eIhe artificial Standardization OF
ssaass he said "on mere monsy
hssls. that = regardless ~ money puf-
chasing power In various sections ar
~ the quantity. and quality ~ serviee
required % such employees - Stallion
asenta and freishi handlers IN lsrgf
pverworked sections a. compared with
small stations IN which the business -
limited 20 two o. three hours dsy
cannot be iustinad
"a : friend 81 the vase Garner
venture 90 suggest that they should
eooperata with the railroad managers
la eliminating the Eross discrimination
which now exists nmonE wage earn
~. secruing from the utter disregard
af ne purohnsing power of money 10
alnersnt sections and from ne vital
silaerences ln the time and labor re-
quirsments of iohk bearlng the aa0g
nama~
Ne addsd thai IL a remedial ADJUST
mant cannot be speedily agreed upon |
tAe responsibility should BE- hrsnglu |
homa "a tha National Wage BOARD.
immediate relief from excessive and
unseuna taxation should Al 0ncs he
soushle judge Anderson continued /
NOTHING could ha more unsound than
te tax railroads. which are highways
! for tha purpose o. building Eranolithie /
roaas - BE- tern speedily % pieces BY 4
automobile trucks. many 0f which are
handling fraiWnt thAt ought % he
berne on me rails"
Percy n Todd. president of the Han
gor and Aroostook Railway predicted
4 reesivership for sons New Eng.End
roads uniesa smrly relief II Afforded /
Ha said that only one New 1nglend
read has paid . dividend 1urins ne
lsst year.