Evening journal., 1920-02-24
nlLL ANp TnE RAILRoAp Blu.

c ENATOR L. HElSLER BALL. OF Delaware, deserves
- credit FOR the policy he has pursued in favor OF me
cummins-Esch Railroad bff
In company with 32 Republicans and IS Democrats he
voted yesterday OF adoption Of the conference
report on The b which passed by the House last
Saturday
The bin now viii go to President Wilson. Whether
he win approve veto II Is not known. Regardless OF
the Presidents action The people Of Delaware have the
satisfaction Of knowing that their junior Senator voted
right Of the most important pieces Of legislation
OF the session.
With The return OF the railroads to private operation
the country will emerge from wenty-six-months' ex-
pertinent with government ownership the lessons from
which not likely soon TO be forgotten Taken over
as war emergency measure only about ten months OF
the Federal administration Of the roads was during the
time the country at war.
The other sixteen months was in time OF peace
when our industries struggling to reestablsh
themselves on peace basis and required every possible
aid cooperation from the transportation systems TO
succeed.
The railroads wrecked financially, materially and IN
morale by maladminisiratlon have been unable to meet
the situation and the industrial progress Of The whole
country has been seriously handicapped as result
Encouraged by their success In forcing upon Demo-
cratic administration and Democratic Congress the So
called Adamson law railroad employees no sooner found
he roads under Federal control than they Instituted
series OF wage demands backed by threats Of strikes ha
The deficit to the government due to that and other
causes has amounted TO the huge total Of almost million
dollars a day which must be me, eventually by The tax
payers.
The morale Of The employees has been reduced to the
lowest ebb known in The history Of rairoadins. WIN
a steady Increase In wages has come corresponding o"-
crng Of personal efficiency
Discipline has been an but lost and the exploitation OF
the employees for political purposes has added to the gen
eral disorganzaon OF The working force on the roads,
The apparent ease with which rail employees have secured
complains with their wage demands has encouraged
workers IN other lines ofindusy to follow their example
and back up their demands or increases with threatened
OF actual strikes.
In spite OF the destructive effect rollins stock
caused by the pressure Of war real effort has been
msde To provide equipment TO take tho place OF lna
retired by wear Durns the period Of Federal control the
production Of new cars than haf that before me
war although The need far greater than ever
before.
Every industry in The country is dependent upon car
supply 10 move ITS product market and there is hardly
manufacture Who has not seriously suffered from The
nesliecnce Of the Administration in not providing sut-
ncienl cars u is freely charged that The coal strike
would have been ayerted had the supply OF cars p-eh
maintained. Production was Interrupted miners were
laid or and wages stopped because there was no way
TO move the product Of the mines
The huge increases in freight and passenger rates.
made necessary in The effort 10 meet The added cost OF
operatns he roads, has been material factor in adding
to the high cost OF living Those rates must be con-
tinued or increased The future 10 give the roads an
opportunity to rehabaie themselves after the gripping
experiince through which they have passed.
Never again win the people be the willing victims OF
an experiment that is costing them millions Of dollars
a day and ha consequences Of which viii wiring tribute
from them Tor years to il has been at terrible
price, but The lesson well learned, and future genera
lions VIII benefit from The mistakes Of the present
Senator Ball has done well in working and voting to
put an end to existing conditions which have done so
much harm to the American public.