The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-03-12
RAILROADS PRAY FOR HIGHER RATES
 AND PUBLIC WEEPS
Problem Growing Worse and Federal Interference May Be Necessary = EmpIoyeS
 Have StrangIe Hold
By HUGH W. ROBERTS Washington Bureau The Age -Herold
 800 Davidson HuiIdinR

Washington. March 11.-(SpeciaLl- Attempts to secure expressions of opin> ion from members of Congress and others in official life. regarding the railroad situation, which from every angle is admittedly distressing have resulted in failure. This is due to the fact that the men asked for opinions have none. They do not know what the proper solution is. They do not know into what the situation will be evolved.
 There is universal expression of hope that government ownership or government supervision will not be again attempted. And yet consider able number of congressman express fear that the government will be the day, It is reasonably certain that Congress will never again guarantee railroads a fixed return on their ln- vestments. It is positive that rail- roaGs will not be permitted again to raise their rates
 ROADS NEED MORE
 At the same time, railroads have represented to the interstate com merae commission that unless they are permitted to earn more. they must of necessity go into hands of receivers If the transportation system of the country breaks down. there will be nationwide panic. So the problem ex- ists, and daily grows more serious. There is but little doubt but that in the immediate future, it will require the attention of Congress and the ad- illustration.
 The statement of the chairman oi the interstate commerce commission, made few days ago to Senator Harris of Georgia anu printed in this news paper, was sufficiently grave to give of1iclal Washington distinct pause The chairman represented that instead of improving, the plight of the raii- roads was today more serious than h was last December. He pointed out the fact that business, both passenger and freight. had deteriorated in vol ume and value, and that of every dol lar received by the railroads 90 cents Was expended In meeting the cost of operations. If that statement is ac. curate, the railroads cannot continue to survive after the government with draws the sustaining hand
 SHIPPERS BUMPED
 AS ponderous as the burden of the railroads, it is not as ponderous as that of the people Represe ntative Oliver Of Alabama has complaint from lum- Der producers of the south that the money obtained from sale of lumber shipped t" Washington, Philadelphia ana New York does not equal the sum deniahced by the railroads for the transportation of such lumber. Pro- ducers of peaches in Georgia and cit rus fruit in Florida complain to Sem ators Harris and Fletcher that on &C., count of the excessive transportation charSos they cannot put their products on eastern markets. The story is the same, irrespective of who tells it, or the section in which he lives. Rail- road rates make it impossible for men to io busiaess.
 The chairman of the interstate com> merce commission was obviously cor rect when he stated to Senator Harris that railroad business was decreasina regularly. The people cannot traveA and the people cannot ship the stuff .uey -~ve to sell. In this connect-e>, Senator Fletcher of Florida declared today that he had complaint from the proprietor of one of the fashionable