The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1921-10-28
RATE OF RETURN EARNED
BY ROADS OF THE
UNITED STATES ON THEIR
PROPERTY INVESTMENT.

II wiii thus be noted that during the
years whom other Industries vsrs mixing
very large profits. when the prices of farm
products ana the wages 81 labor were
soaring 70 unheard OF hsiwhts.s che earn
inss upon railroad invessmsrt, In the
United states were held within sYery mar
row hrnits and that they have, dpvipG the
past four Year, progressively decifnsd.
Rssss Hsss,espsss Nsrss vhss oshse
ousirees. st
!. The railroads are responsible. 10 the
public for providing adequate trAnsporta-
ton. Their charges are limited by pubic
authority. and they are In very large -.
spscts NOTABLY for iabor) cosnpctied 20
spend money on basis fixed by pushe
authority. Tho margin Within which they
are permitted 90 earn a return upon their
invest nent or TO offer indueemeats TO
attract new capital for extensions ana
betternents II extremely limited, How
ever much the railroads might desire.
therefore. TO reduce their charges IN times
~ depression. Il win be perceived that
The limitations surrounding their action
de not permit Thorn 90 give effect 10
broad and elastic policies which might
very properly govern other lines ~ bust
ness not thus restricted I, has been urged
upon the railroads that reduction tn
rates viii stimulate t,affic hrd that In
creased traffic viii protect the carriers
from tho loss incident go = rcfurtlcn In
rates The railroad management can
not disguise from Themselves inst this
suggestion Is merely conjccturui and that
an adverse result 90 the experiment would
he disastrous not only 20 the railroads
but 20 the public. whose supreme need 81
adequate transportation,
Consequently the railroad manarernents
cannot feel Justified IN placing these IN
strumentalities. 30 essential 20 the public
nent based solely upon such conjecture.
Farmer. Especially Need Lower Rates.
u is evident. however that axisting
transportation charges hear In many
cases disproportionste relationship TO
the prices nj which commodities can he
sold In the market and that existing labor
and other costs Of transportation thus I'm
pose upon industry and agriculture
generally burden greater than they
should bear. This is especially true Of
agriculture The railroad manaxemen,s
are feeling sensitive 20 and sYnpathetsc
with the distressing situation and desire
10 do everything to assist In relieving u
that In compatible with their duty 10
furnish tho transportation which the
public must have
At the moment railroads IN many cases
are paving forty cents an hour for IN
skilled labor when sir,lsr labor Is work
I ing alongside the railroads ara can easily
/ be ot.,ained bv them At twenty cents an
( hour The railroads Of the country PAID
/ IN 1899 total ot considerably over
/ 81 500, zoe 600 80 unskuloa labor alone.
/ However desirable it may be % pay this
! ~ tina. achedale 81 wages. Il IL obvious
/ that Il cannot be paid on; % railroad
earnings unless the industries which use
I ,he railroads are capable - meeting ga =
y chavwVs
The railroads and through then, ~,
I people generally. are also hampvred IA
Z their Efforts Ia econouisc bv a schedule
I 90 working rules and conditions osw IN
force "a heri,agv frcr3 the pr~fet -
! federal control and upheld BY the railroad
/ ishcr board These conditions ave cxr.~~
. stvs uuerouofric ant u0rererearv f-eH
. the pc5nt ~ View q raNvoHt operation s-1
extremely burtcnsoi1c upon tNr paSt5
! which paws the bfi This etHeJa3e
I wsres ana ~ working eeret Il
. vents tnc railroads FROM ttaiIa- o.. f.t tsls
Z vita tart tabnr costs ir r-rfrt'an..n $3.50
rapidly changing c7aatsr-- ara tae rrssf
I yRY'ntF ~ 1'f&l CnuH 1erRs. ah
ought 81 control wages in t}fre~ fsa-fs
20 the country Thu rAiircats ere sefst
20 hsVr those rsits ard werktrx
tions sbTogstc3
The railroads win seek rptuc,fer r
wages row proposed by H-s' rr, sac ~
Ihs Sanction - tAe railroad Nhav hoard
Tie railroads VIII proceed With uf pass.
efs Sspatct ard a. srrn As thetrl .lry,rs
iaheE board SHAH have stvsn ITS assent &,
the reduction II wakes the gsn9rAi re
dsctlen In rates VIII Be put into effect.
------------------f--