The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1921-11-18
RoaeS Handicapped Mere Thar Other
Business

2 Tho railroads ure responsible 20
the publIc for providing adequate
transportation. Their ehorEcs arr liii,
tied by public authority. and they sre
IN very large respects Cnoiably for b.
b0f) compelled 90 spend money on
basis Fixed by public authority. The
margin within wbirh they are permit
ted 10 earn a return npon their invest
ment or 10 offer Inducements a. siiract
new capital Tor extensions and better
meuts IL extremely limited. However
much the railroads might desire, there
fore, to reduce their charges in times
~ depression, Il viii be perceived thar
The Limitations surrounding their nc
ton do not permit them 10 give effect
20 broad and elastic policies which
might very properly govern other lines
~ business not thus restricted
It has been urged upon the railroads
that q reduction in rates viii siimu.
late trnfiic and that Increased trnfpc
viii protect the carriers from the loss
Incident 70 q reduction IN rates The
railroad arrangements cannot disguise
from themselves thar this suggestion "
merely coniectural and that an adverse
result of the experiment would he dis.
astfOus not only 10 the railroads but
70 the public, whose supreme need II
adequate transportation. Consequently
the railroad arrangements cannot feel
justified IN placing these Instrumental
Ties. SO essential 10 the public welfare,
nj the hazard % such an experiment
based solely upon such conjecture.
Farmers Especially Need Lower Rstss
II Il evident. however. Chat existing
transportation charges hear Ia many
eases diaprDportiaHate relationship -
tina prices a. which commodities can be
sold IN the market AMI that existing labor
and other costs % transportation thus
imposed upon Industry and agriculture
generally a burden greater than they
should bear. This IL especially true ~
agriculture. The railroad arrangements
sre feeling sensitive 20 and sympathetic
with the distressing situation and de-
sire 20 do everything 20 assist IN reliev-
ing Il that IL compatible with their duty
20 furnish the transportation which The
public must have
At the moment railroads In many cares
are paying 40e. and hour for uusklIled
fhpuf MtGN kifOiiAF fAhNr 10 MbfhlnE along
side tho railroads and can easily be OBJ
tanned by them At 20c. an hour THE
railroads OF the country paid In 1920
total Of considerably over 81 400. 600 900 10
unskiiled tabor alone However desirable
Il may be 60 pay this or that schedule
Of wages, II IL obvious that Il cannot ne
paid out Of railroad earnings unless the
industries which use the railroads are
capable OF meeting such charges
The railroads, and through them the
people generally. are also hampered IN
their efforts TO eeonomize by a hchcduie
of working rules and conditions now n
force MS q heritage from the period of
Federal control and upheld by the Rail-.
road labor Board. These conditions are
expensive, nnecon0mlc and unnecessary
I from the point Of View ~ railroad opera.
ton and extremely burdensome upon the
] public which pays tho bill This ached-
uie OF wages and OF working conditions
prevents the railroads from dealinra
aaultabiy with their labor costs iu ac-
4 oordance with rapidly changing conditions
4 and the great variety OF local conaidera-
I lions which ought 10 control wages IN
different parts Of the country The rail-
roads are seeking TO have these rules and
working conditions abroaated
The railroads Will seek reduction IN
I wages now proposed by first requesting
/ the sanction Of tie Railroad Labor Board.
! The railroads will proceed with all posi-
| BILE dispatch, and as soon as the Railroad
/ Labor Board shall have given its assent
4 70 the reduction of wages the general
reduction IN rates win be put into snect,