New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-05-10
Senate Inquiry
Into Railroads
Begins To-day
Yr,erssase Commerce Conn
naittee TO Seek Factors
Affecting Wage Scales
and High Operating Cost
Plan Freight Rate Cut
s;,uation Has Taken Turn
for Better, Says Head
Of Companies Executives
-, n. Trisanx,s Weshsmceo,, Bareas

rpesr TAS TT76trHE,s W aShsT1eos haTe9N
wAsHTNGTON, May s.---The Senate
,,,srstste Commerce Committee will
s.sls te-morrcv full investigation of
tss railroad situation, Precipitated By
"a demand Of the carriers for wide
sn-sae wage cuts to meet general
sescits, the committees inquiry will
seek to bring out the factors affecting
,xaee scales The committee will try TO
sscertain the reasons for the dirninu-
t;an af railroad traffic since the in
creased passenger and freight rates
rant into effect and the causes for the
tremendous jump in operating expenses
during Federal control An attempt
slso viii be made to devise means for
reducing freight rates if such reduc-
ion seems advisable as solution of
,hs present difficulties.
Among the representatives of the
railroads who will appear before the
committee are Julius Kruttschnitt,
chairman of the Southern Pacific; A. II.
Smith, president of the New York Cen
ral; Samuel Rea, president of the
Pennsylvania; Howard Elliott, chair
nan Of the Northern Pacific; Daniel
Willard. president Of the Baltimore &
Ohio: Robert S. Lovett, chairman of
the Union Pacific. and probably j. E.
German, president Of the Chicago,
Rock Island 4 Pacific.
The committee then will call in rep
sesentatiTes of the railroad labor
Unions and others interested in the
transportation question.
T. De Witt Cuyler, chairman of the
Association of Railway Executives, In
statement issued tonight, sufnmar-
ICED the case for the roads.
Sees Turn for the Better
Presentation of the railroad case,
Mr. Cuyler said, would be in general
charge Of Alfred p Thorn, general
counsel for the association.
Mr. Cuyler said the roads were pass
ins through 8 crisis which was not
peculiar to the roads of the United
States; that the railroad situation had
passed it's darkest hour and had turned
Tor the better; that the transportation
act was the most constructive trans
portation measure passed by Congress
dealing with transportation in IS
wears; that present difficulties are not
due to the transportation act, and that
the arrangements of the roads are not
asking for any amendments TO this
law.
4The railroad managers said Mr..
Cuyler, regret that the operation of
memorable economic laws makes il
necessary that railroad wages should
be reduced. But the railroad managers
have no fight with their employees,
aud the supreme aim of every railroad
management in America to-day is to
establish its Relationship with it's en-
pvvees on basis of friendliness and
cooperation which will result in work
g. satisfactory wages for the largest
ssibie number of men and in an ef-
heient and economical service TO the
public
he credits the Interstate Commere.
Commission and the public with mani.
testing desire to cooperate with the
railroad managers in working out
problems. The statement continues:
Rate Reduction Forecast
Railroad arrangements are fully
aware of the feeling in many quarters
that certain railroad rates are exces-
sIye, and the unremitting efforts of the
railroad arrangements of this country
are to provide service of such economy
and efficiency that 1t can be rendered !
at rate which will promote the move
ment Of the largest possible amount Of
traffic.
The responsibility of railroad man
agement is, of course, not alone to
give low rates, but to provide adequate
facilities. In times of prosperity the
adequacy Of facilities is of more con-
sequence than the rate itself. So that
II the railroad managers assent 20 a
schedule of rates in time of depression
which make 1t impossible for them to
provide adequate facilities against q
Feriod of prosperity. they would be
resreant to a duty they cannot escape.
The public and the Congress may
rest assured that the railroad managers
are straining every nerve SO to reduce
tneir expenses that they ma be able
ai the earliest moment to adjust rates to
changed econom C cond tons. and GER
tainly to the end that no individual
.ate shall be- so high as to interfere
VITA The normal movement of COM