New-York tribune., 1921-03-28
New Party for
u. S. Ownership
OF Rails Urged
Head of Committee of 48
Asserts That the Esch-
Cummins Act Has Proved
a Most Dismal Fiasco
Warfie1d Plan Assailed
Says Proposed Federal Con.
troll Would Insure Monop-
oily of Government Money

AOA w OuAo insure MOn0p-
oily of Government Money
Asserting that the plan for Federal
control Of railroads submitted to SEN
ator Albert B. Cummins, chairman Of
the Senate Committee on Interstate
Commerce, by s. Davies warfield, presi-
dent Of the National Association Of
Owners of Railroad Securities. is a
scheme to relieve the roads from the
'hasco" of the Esch- Cummins bill.
which placed the lines back into pri-
vate ownership after the war, J. A. H.
Hopkins, executive chairman of the
Committee of Forty-eight, yesterday
urged the creation of a new political
party.
The chief object Of the new party.
MI. Hopkins said, would be to effect
government ownership of railroads and
TO operate them for the benefit Of
1lo'ooo'ooo people who are dependent
upon them fer their daily existence. in
stead of 100000 stockholders.
Mr.. Warfeld proposes the author
'zatlon by Congress Of holding COM
pany, dominated and controlled by the
present railroad magnates," said Mr..
hopkins IN statement issued by him.
The effect of this would be not only to
place the stamp of governmental an
Proval upon q vast private monopolv
nut to insure to this private mononoiv
the connivance and financial backing NJ
the Federal government"
Calls Transportation Act Fiasco
Mr.. Hopkins asserted that Senator
Lodge, at the Republican National con-
vention last year, had said that the
Esch-Cummins bill was a Republican
measure and that it represented the
last word in railroad legislation. "The
results" continued Mr.. Hopkins. do
not reject much credit on the business
SSagaclty OF either Senator Lodge or ex-
congressman Esch. The increased rates
have prostrated business. The rail-
roads are demanding a $500, 900 900 re-
ductlon in wages and have DISCHARGED
thousands of men. The findings of the
Railroad Labor Board have been ir-
nored and repudiated, and the rail-
roads are admittedly on the verge of
bankruptcy. Private ownership has
again failed, notwithstanding that it
was Dacheo Dy government aid and leg
lslation Of its own choosing. The
Esch- Cumming law has proved dismal
tiasco.
"If, therefore, the Republican party
deserves all the credit for enactinr this
marvellous legislation, it must likewise
assume the blame. Yet Senator Cum
minis is still the chairman of the Senate
Committe on Interstate Commerce. and
President Harding has put forward
ex-Congressman Esch, who has already
gone down to defeat on this issue, az
member of the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
LOADED With Dynamite.
ut is unreasonable to suppose that
the public can have any further conf.
dence in their ability to deal with this
situation successfully. Hence, Mr.. War
fields appearance on the scene with q
plan born of desperation and loaded
with dynamite.
which the sentiment of the country is
tributed to Secretary Hoover, that we
can expect no help in this direction
from the present Administration nor
from either of the major parties, whose
thoughts are centered upon the ex-
ploltation of our own country, the pro-
lection of their own financial interests
and the investment Of their excess
profits in imperialistic enterprises, as
is evidenced by the suggestion at
tributed to Secretary Hoover that we
should in some way consolidate our
privately owned railroad and shipping
interests as a vast machine for the
building up of our foreign trade.
New Party Held Necessary
"The solution lies in the organization
nf
p)eged to public ownership of our own
domestic transportation service. de-.
signed for q proper distribution and
marketing Of our own products, upon
an intelligent plan that will neither
nurse the exploded theory of private
ownership nor confscate the railroads
Tor the sake of public ownership, but
will take them over on q fair valua-
tlon and operate them for the public
good.
1--WE must pledge ourselves through
political action to abolish privilege.
meaning thereby the unjust economic
small group controls our natural re-
sources, transportation, industry and
credit, stiles, competition, prevents
equal opportunity of development for
all, and thus dictates the conditions
under which we live.
"This economic advantage possessed
by a small group is the power through
which Wall Street perpetuates it's con-
troll of both the Democratic and Re-
publican parties. By the same token
this is the reason why neither of the
old parties will ever face the railroad
problem squarely and solve it by relin-
gushing its control"
Pennsy Appeals to Employees
Pending the adjustment Of new wage
scales in line with its announced policy
Of reducing wages generally the Penn
sylvania Railroad, through President
Samuel Rea, has addressed a circular
letter to its employees asking them to
be open minded" on the subject.
1--WE have come to the necessity of
reducing wages" says Mr.. Rea in the
circular. Drastic economies have been
made in every other way possible.
Working forces have been reduced |
more than 10000 men. With less busi-
ness to handle, and wages taking the
abnormal sum Of nearly 70 cents out of
every dollar the railroad earns, the ras
naming 80 cents is not sufficient to
buy fuel and other materials and sup
plies and pay our taxes and other obli-
cations There ia onlv oua v,a u left to |