The evening world., 1921-06-01
HARDING WANTS
FREIGHT RATE CUT
WITH MEMS WAGES
Pays Informal Visit to Inter
slate Commerce Boafd to
Express His Views.
THE TWO GO TOGETHER
Roads Not Eager for Reduction
but President Believes Now
Is the Time.
Bg Da cid Laurence.


Especial correspondsnt Of The Eve
Ming Worid.)
WARRINGTON. June ! Copyright.
is:D.-Prcsldcnt Harding has taken
his nrst important step toward so'v-
ing the railway problem lie has In
effect asked the Interstate Commerce
Commission 20 reduce freight ratea.
He did not do SO directiy-thc man
aged the thing very tactfully and
Automatically, For q President In not
supposed to ask the Interstate Com
merce Commission. which Is a quasi
judici,i body. to render any decisions
Woodrow Wilson bad some inform II
conferences once with members OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission and
was severely criticised for trying to
influence the commission TO revise
rates nr 'u
/ PRESIDENT HardiaS adopted much
htokr direct and even boider course
which unauestionabiy Will establish a
precedent and brush aside for all time
the technical criticism that n Presi-
dent cannot communicate with the In
tcrstatc Commerce Commission. Nc.
Harding walked to the Interstate
Commerce Commission building and
told the members OF the commission
that he recognized that the commis-
sioh Is the rale-making agent OF Con-
sress and that inasmuch AZ he had
The official right to communicate to
Congress any nicssage he p,essed. he
therefore felt free to communicate
directly with the agent Of Congress.
With that delicate question OF right
on his mind, Mr.. Harding entered
into n general discussion with the
commission on the subject OF rates.
making delicate inquiry as to the
progress the commission has made on
the subject and expressing his own
solicitude over certain classes of
rates. lie mentioned particularly the
rate on fruit carrying. which Ia %
much a subject Of compliant In the
West lie was much pleased to learn
that thu commission was endcavor-
Ing to bring about . revision OF rates.
and that the commission was proceed
ins on n plan whereby the railroads
would voluntarily reduce their scale
on certain commodities where obvi-
ously the rate was more than the
traffic could bear.
VISIT PART OF HARpiNo's
PLAN.
Mr.. Harding left the commission
with a parting word that carried a
great deal Of Significance. He spoke
Of his desire to be helpful and 10 re-
main In closer touch with the work the
commission 10 doing.
Now the visit OF Mr.. Harding was no
casual affair. accidentally brought
about. II was deliberately thought out
az a means Of convincing the country
that President Harding recognized the
necessity OF lower freight ratrs and
that ne hoped ffIe carriers would see
tho dcsirabiiity Of meeting public
opinion and achieving economics in
other directions.
The whole subtcct was discussed al
the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday,
after which Il was announced that
the President would do something
about rates the very next day. The
visit to the commission was planned
by Mr.. Hartiins. not only after consul
tAtion With tho Cabinet, but after u
became known here aiso that ths
Railroad Labor Board would hand
down q decision cutting the price Of
certain classes cf labor ana eiiminat-
ing an estimated cost Of $500. 900 900 q
year in wasos.
II was IN the Judgment OF Mr.
HafdinE the psychological time tG
act. With ~ases going down. the
public has been expecting freight
rates TO 80 down. NJ. HARDING
sought a chance TO emphasize thu
necessity OF the two steps being taker
. as close together as possible mol
merely to hasten . return TO nor.
malcy but 10 console the ia6ortnt
classes who win be accepting wag'
reductions with tho knowledsc tha
tho railroads will be Obliged TO re
. dtice freight rates too.
|. somo labor leaders have insisted
. that the men would not object 4
> wNgc decreases II accompanied BY :
: reduction In freight rates, which, u
turn. would be reflected In = pevisioi
Il downward OF the cost OF living.
2 ROADS NOT EAGER TO cu7
RATE&
A Mr.. Harding consulted Senate
h cimmins. Chairman OF the Senat
Committee on Interstate Commercs
: and James A. Davis. VINO handles a
Q the Affairs hanging over from tn
2 period when the Government hS
- control OF the railroads Steps wv
soon be taken 10 pay the roads lars
u sums OF money owed them by III
Government and 70 make Il easier "a
N them TO pay come OF their debtA
!. The railroads arsur eager 70 n
= eucr freight rates. They claim
would still further decrease eheir a