The Washington times., 1921-03-21
new RAILROAD
PLAN OFFERED
Baltimorean Proposes a Ma.
tionaI Service Board to Co.
ordinate Facilities.

Compulsory changes in railroad
management, which, it is declared,
would savePmllions of dollars year
and result in lowering freight and
passenger rates on all American rail-
roads, are urged in a detailed state
ment which was made public here
today. With exhibits, it was filed
with Senator Cummins, chairman Of
the Senate Committee on Interstate
Commerce.
OWNERSHIP AT STAKE.
The statement was prepared by s.
Davies Warfeld. of Baltimore, presi-
dent of the National Association OF
Owners of Railroad Securities, who
also sent O. separate letter to Senator
Cummins, containing a grave declara-
ton that only rapid and vigorous
methods will avert Government oper-
alton Of the roads, followed by Cow
ernment ownership outright.
In explaining the development of
the present situation, which has
alarmed the railroad industry in re-
cent weeks and has driven the stocks
of standard companies to the lowest
prices OF several decades, Mr.. War
field finds fault with the rate ar
rangement during the Governments
wartime tenure of the railroads. The
recent adjustment, he points out, was
Intellectual because IL collided with
the postwar slump in business.
He attacks the recent effort in Chi
cago by certain OF the large railroads
to force an annulment Of the Railroad
Labor Board of the national agree
ments with the employees. This effort
he declares not only failed OF its pur-
pose, but has aroused bad feeling be-
tween the roads and the employees
and has seriously delayed the whole
reconstruction program.
SCORES CLAYTON ACT.
He assails the prohibition of inter
locking directorates," and asserts the
Clayton act has deprived the rail-
roads of advice they need badly just
now.
He also complains of the condition
in which the Government gave back
the properties to the roads, and, in
conclusion, gives a solemn warning to
roads. employees and Congress that
the industrial perils ahead are much
bigger than any individual or group
peril
The remedy proposed for all this is
on extension of the Cummins- Esch
act. There is no conflict with that
basic legislation. the continued op.
Grafton OF which Mr.. Warfield des-
rribes as essential" but for declin.
ing tonnage it would have ended the
difficulty.
Specifically IL compels the roads to
do what the Cummins-Esch act per-
mits them to do, but which Mr.. War.
field surmises they never will do an
til forced. To effect this he would
have Congress create a national rail
way service to purchase equipment
! for all the roads, and to force co
! ordination of facilities and service
PLAN OF ORGANIZATION.
Organization would be as follows:
The national railway service
would have a board OF forty members
half OF them constituting finance
and administrative section" the Other
half a railroad officials section
| This board would be under the gen
eral supervision of group of fivt
members OF the Interstate CommercC
] Commission.
In each of the present four-rate ter.
r!tories into which the United States
is divided there would be "grour
railway board" of seven members
|
territory. The twenty railroad mer
OF these four groups constitute the
railroad officials section" OF tn,
main board.
In each of these four territoris
groups there would also be ten FIVE
man committees designated by th'
railroads to collaborate with the
group board on technical matters
one on wages, another on working
conditions. another on equipment, or
fuel, on supplies, etc.
| The National Railway Service Cor
poration (recently organized by the
Association of Security owners tt
furnish equipment) to be superseded
II by the national railway service" Mr.
Warfield wishes created, its present
twenty trustees of the existing cor
poration to serve as the finance and
administrative section" of the new
body. ,- ..-