The Washington times., 1921-10-30

their hostile and uncompromising
stand, are bringing nearer the day
when the Government takes over
the roads.
A few go so far as to say that
this fact perfectly well and are lay
ing a shrewd plan to make the peo-
pie pay for the roads almost twice
as much as they are worth. Those
who hold this view say that when
the roads demanded a return to pri-
vate control. at a time when every
sane men saw storms ahead, they
were not 80 silly as they seemed.
Thinks They Blundered.
Their purpose, in other words, was
not to make good. but juggle the
figures in such a way as to form
the basis of exorbitant claims when
the moment for Government owner
ship comes.
NV own opinion is that the man.
ayers merely blundered along, drunk
with their own propaganda. l may
be wrong, however, and this plan or
getting out from under at high
prices may be a reality.
The article from which l quoted two
days ago, and inadvertently credited
| TO the Manufacturers Record, when 1t
should have been the Manufacturers
News, speaks seriously of tine ten
dency of naturalization OF our basic
| industries" 1t may be that more
business men than we think see the
trend toward Government ownership.
There is no abler, better Uniformed,
or more highly respected member OF
any board in Washington than Joseph
b. Eastman, of the Interstate Com
! merce Commission. He said the other
day:
II have in mind the propaganda
which turns the spotlight
upon everything that is unfavorable
and adds a few lies for good measure.
THE necessity Of Federal control
was conceded at the time when II
was undertaken . One of the
numerous reasons was the reservation
of railroad securities from financial
demonstration. The roads were OPP
Grated during Federal control by sub
| stantially the same staff as now.
During the first six months after
the return to private control the de-
| ficiency was upward of $500 ,000, 600.
| In the succeeding twelve months, fol-
lowing the most stupendous increase
| ever made in our railroad rates, the
deficiency was at least 100000 900.
| 1T was kept from reaching a still
| larger sum only by slashes in ex-
penditures which have left the coun.
try with one of the largest percentages
| of ad-order cars in its history
Lane Voted Raises.
Then, as applying to the wild talk
about this weeks situation, read what
this cool and conservative expert has
to say about labor:
"The impression has been spread
broadcast that the increases in wages
| during Federal control were the prod
uct of intrigue and political pressure.
The facts are tat the major increases
were made upon the recommendation
Of q bipartisan board of arbitration,
headed by Franklin X. Lane, which
thoroughly considered both sides"
Then came 21 per cent increase
recommended by the Labor Board
created under the Esch- -Cummins act
That act was passed by the capitalists
Since then has come the IL per cent
reduction. The Esch-Cummins board
said:
The scale Of wages paid railroad
employees is substantially below that
paid for similar work in outside In
dustry." -..
I~is also said that the scale Of living
for the men had been lowered since
1914.
The national agreements, that are
barked at now, were made while the
transportation system was in the hand,
of Walker ID. Hines, praised to the
skies by all railroad men until he be
gan to serve the Government.
Mr.. Hines has now returned from
Europe to this country. 1t might
amuse the Cummins committee to cal
him to the stand and ask him whole
lot of things.