New-York tribune., 1921-10-15
that they have during the last four
years rogressively declined.
Operation Is Rcstri ted

years progressively declined.
Operation Is Rcstri ted
'2. The railroads are responsible to
the public fer providing adequate trans
port ton. Their charges are limited
by public authority and they are in very
large respects (notably for labor) com.
relled to spend money on basis fixed
BY public authority. The margin within
which they are permitted to earn re-
turn upon their investment or to offer
inducements to attract new capital for
extensions and bettermenes is ex-
tremely limited. However much the
railroe DIS might desire therefore to re-
duce their charges in times Of depres-
sion. it will be perceived that the
lmitatio surrounding their action dc
elastic policies which might very prop.
erly govern other lines of business NOT
thus restricted.
at has been urged upon the rail-
roads that reduction In rates will
stimulate traffic and that increased
traffic will protect the carriers from
the loss incident to reduction in
rates. The railroad managements can
not disguise from themselves that this
Suggestion iS ucIclS COHJcCLuTdl, anu
that an adverse result of the cxperi-
ment would be disastrous not only to
the railroads but to the public, whose
supreme need Is adequate transporta-
ton. Consequently the railrSad man
agements cannot feel justified in plac-
ing these instrumentalities go essen
tal to the pub ic we fare, at the hazard
of such an exper ment based solely
upon such a conjecture.
ut is evident, however, that existing
transportation charges bear in many
cases a sproportionate relationshiTp
to the prices at which commodities can
be sold in the market, and that exist
ing labor and other costs of transpor-
taton thus impose upon industry and
agr ture generally q burden greater
than they should bear. This is espe-
cially true of agriculture. The rail-
road arrangements are feeling sensitive
TO and sympa the.ic with the distressing
situation and desire to do everything
to assist in relieving it that is com
patible with their duty to furnish the
transportation which the public must
have.
at the moment railroads in many
cases are paying 40 cents an hour for
unskilled labor, when similar labor is
working alongside the ra lraods and
can easily be obtained by them at 20
cents an hour. The railroads of the
country paid in 1920 total Of consid.
erably over $1,000, 100000 to unski led
labor alone. However desirable 1t nav
be to pay this or that schedule OF wages
it is obvious that it cannot be paid out
OF railroad earnings unless the indus
tr es which use the railroads are capa-
Die OF meeting such charges.
Working Rules Hamper
"The railroads, and through thom the
people generally, are also hampcred in
their efforts TO cconomize by sched-
ule of workin. rules and conditions
now in force as hcrtaoc from tho
period Of Federal control, and upheld
by the Railroad Labor Board. These
ccndit ons are expensive. uneconomic
and unnecessary fr,m the point of view
OF railroad operations, and extreme Y
burdcnsome upon the public, which
paws the bill This schedule Of wages
and If working conditions prevents the
railroads from dealing equ tably with
labor costs in accordance with ran div
changing conditions and the great va-
r'ety Of local considerations which
ought TO control wages in different
parts Of the country. The raiiroqds
are seeking TO have these rules and
working conditions abroratvd.
"The ra,lroads " II seek reduction
IN wages now proposed b. first request
ing the sanc.ion Of the Railroad Labor
b. ard The r4ilronds will pr cecd with
ali possible dispntch ard as soen MS
the Railroad Labor Board ghall have
given It's assent 10 the reduction If
wa"es the general reduction in rates
VIII be put snto effect"
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