The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1921-10-21


II will thus be noted that during
the years when other industries were
making very large profits. when the
prices OF farm products and the wages
OF labor were soaring to unheard of
heights. the earnings upon railroad
investment In the United States were
held within very narrow limits and
that they have during the past four
years progressively declined.
Roads Handicapped More Than Other
Business
2. The railroads are responsible to
the public for providing adequate
transportation. Their charges are
limited by public authority. and they
are in very large respects (notably
for labor compelled 10 spend money
on a basis fixed by public authority.
The margin within which they are
permitted TO earn return upon their
investment or to offer inducements to
attract new capital for extensions
and betterments is extremely limited
However much the railroads might
desire. therefore, TO reduce their
charges in times of depression, II will
be perceived that the limitations sur
rounding their action do not permit
them TO give effect to broad and
elastic policies which might very
properly govern other lines of bust
ness not thus restricted.
1t has been urged upon the rail
roads that q reduction In rates will
stimulate traffic and that increased
traffic will protect the carriers from
the loss incident to reduction in
rates. The railroad arrangements
can not disguise from themselves that
this suggestion Is merely coniectural
and that an adverse result OF the ex-
pertinent woaid be disastrous not
only to the railroads. but to the pub
lie, whose supreme need Is adequate
transportation
Consequently the railroad manage
msnts can not feel justified In plac.
ing these Observation-Disclosures, SO essen.
tial TO the public welfare, at the haz-
ard Of such an experiment based sole
iy upon such a conjecture
Farmers Especially Need Lower Rates
Ii is evident. however. that existing
transportation charges bear In many
cases disproportionate relationship
u the prices at which commodities
cau be sold in the market and that
existing labor and other costs of
TRANSFORMATION thus imposed upon in.
dustry and agriculture generally, q
burden greater than they should bear.
This is especially true OF agriculture,
The railroad arrangements are feeling
sensitive To and sympathetic with the
distressing situation and desire to do
everything 10 assist in relieving IL
that is compatible with their duty to
furnish the transportation which the
public must have.
Al the moment railroads in many
cases are paying Acc an hour for un-
skilled labor whenf similar labor Is
working alongside the railroads and
can easily be obtained by them at zoe
ali hour. The railroads of the coun-
try paid. in 1920. total OF consider.
ably over 81 200. 100000 TO unskilled
labor alone. However. desirable II
may be 10 pay this or that schedule
OF wages. Il 10 ebviess that II can not
be paid out Of p@iiroad earnings un.
less the industries which use the rail
roads are capable or meeting such
charges.
The railroads and through them the
people generally, are also hampered
In their efforts TO economic by
schedule OF working rules and condi-
tons now in force "a a heritage from
the period q federal control and up-
held by the railroad labor board.
These conditions are expensive. un,
economic and unnecessary from the
point OF view OF railroad operation
and extremely burdensome upon the
public which pays the bill. This
schedule OF wages and OF working
conditions prevents the railroads from
dealing equitsbly with their variety OF
local cons derations which ought to
control wages In different parts OF the
country. The railroads are seeking
10 have these rules and working con
ditions sbrogated.
The railroads will seek q reduction
In wages now proposed by first re-
questing the sanction OF the railroad
labor board. The -ailrosds will pro
coed with all possible dispatch and as
soon as the railroad labor board shall
have given its assent TO the reduction
OF wages the general reduction In
rates viii be put into effect.