Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1921-04-14
PRESIDENT MARKHAM OF ILL
NOIS CENTRAL ASKS FOR
SUSPENSION OF JUDO
MENT AS TO RATES.

I
President G. H. Markham of the
Illinois Central, has written very
interesting and enlightening letter
to the public on the subject of ex-
listing freight rates. He deals with
all phases of the subject, and makes
the point against those who argue
that the present rates are too high,
that. even if the rates were reduced
to the pre-war level on cotton, for in |
stance, not bale more would have
moved than has actually moved, be-
cause of low price and stagnation in
the market. He argues that the same
condition exists with commerce and
Grade the country over and rail rates
have nothing whatever to do with the
period of business depression which
is Just now beginning to pass. Nor,
from his argument, has any advocate :
of reduction of rail rates as slim
ulaRt to traffic plank to stand upon
+, after reading the presentation by this
practical railroad man.
| He goes on to show that the pre-
war freight rates were really too low;
under those rates there was not Suf
ticient earning by the railroads to
! make their securities yield an attrac-
tive return, with the result that those
| securities were not taken sufficient
| ly to enable the roads to maintain
| their properties as they should, and
to make improvements or better
ments, with further result that the
various properties now need a great
amount of money spent upon them.
| This money can only be had if the
roads are allowed to earn sufficient
to induce investors to take their
stocks and bonds.
Even as it is, freight -1Ces have
not kept pace with the cost of opera
ton and material. Since 1917 freight
J rates have been increased on the |
whole about 68 per cent and passeng- |
er rates about As per cent; but dur
ing the same period railway wages
have been increased more than 100
per cent while materials and supplies
have increased from 100 to 200 per
cent-and even more.
Evidently, Mr.. Markham is writ
ing to warn against propagandists
who seek to undermine confidence
and faith in the railroads when he
says: =
However, this is time when clear
thinking is needed-a time to stand
by the principles that gave America
the greatest and most efficient sys-
tenn of railways in the world Above
all it is not time to lend encourage
ment to those who are seeking to fas-
ten permanently upon the railways |
the very evils from which they are
now struggling to free themselves"
Undoubtedly there is a strong prop |
aganada being now fostered with the
evident intention of weakening and
breakinge down the railroads so that |
| the government will take them over
That is precisely what these socialis- |
tic "borers from within" want. There |
may be degree of selfish interest in
| it also. Under government control 1t
was so easy to organize demonstra- |
| ton and intimidate Congress that the |
scheme appears susceptible of beng |
worked again and again-provided the |
railroads can first be gotten into the |
government hands. Then, every |
| time wages are desired to be boosted |
Lit will be easy. All that is necessary |
| to do is to threaten Congress with the
"railway VOTE" and such raises, bo- |
muses. or other demands will be speed
| lily forthcoming
| But the people will have to pay
the bills-even as they are now pay
ing the bills for the expensive govern
ment experiment. Mr. Markham has
done we'll to sound a warning against
| the insidious effort to reopen the most |
wasteful and extravagant regime the !
world has ever seen in the whole his !
tory of transportation. The high |
rates the railroads charge now are a
necessary legacy from that period
Birmingham, Ala, News, End inst.
TEACHERS ACCEPT JOBS.