The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1921-04-21
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.

BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.
Washington,-At this time the Presi-
dents cabinet is giving serious consid-
GRAFTON to railroad matters. Transpor-
tatl0n seems to loom large as one of
tile vital problems of the day.
Recently the President has been CON
terring with members of the railway
labor board. Everybody knows that
the question of wages is the one which
Is being pressed for answer. The rail
road Arrangements declare that there
can be no hope Of railroad prosperity
unless wages in some places Shall be
decreased. The labor men charge that
the railroads are not being econom-
lcally managed; that money can be
saved in many ways, and that there is
no necessity today of lowering the
wage rate.
1t seems to be the feeling in Wash
ingtOn that when congress undertakes
legislation on railroad matters the dis
cussioE will be long continued taking
probably as much time i'm the house as
are men who take part in the present
controversy who desire government
ownership. There are also men who,
while not wanting government owner
ship, want government supervision to
such an extent that IT will amount vir-
tually to government control. Then
there are men friendly to private own
ership who say tina; If costs can be adj
Justed, and the railroad arrangements
can be given a free hand, prosperity
will return.
President Harding has made it evil
dent that for a time .at least he does
not intend to confer with the railway
executives, but will limit his discus
Sions temporarily to the chiefs of the
various bureaus of the government.
Later on it is known that the Presi-
dent will ask the opinions of the big
railway men of the country.
Freight Rates Must Come Down.
1t is virtually admitted here by the
government officials who have given
the matter consideration that the eX-
listing freight rates cannot continue.
1t is charged that it is more costly TO
ship farm produce from farming sec
tons to the cities of the East than it
is to ship to foreign ports.
OF course there is something entirely
wrong with the whole matter and the
members Of the cabinet, and the Presi-
dent with them, realize it. All the cab
met officers intimate that what they
desire is to get the whole truth if they
can. After the truth has been found
they believe that they can frame some
kind of a policy for rate adjustment
that will not cause injury to general
business, nor to the people as a whole.
Congress always has been afraid of
the railroad question. Politics enters
into it to an unusual degree. 1t Is said
that there were many members of the
lower house of congress who voted for
n law a few years ago in which none
of them believed, and voted for it be-
cause they feared that a certain part
of their constituencies, holding the bal
ance of power would defeat them for
reelection if they had voted in reverse.
1t is rather hard thing to intimate
that some congressman are moved by
their fears rather than by their con
victions, but the charge is made so
frequently that there seems to be
something back of it, and when one
analyses some of the votes in house
and senate with view to the sections
of the country represented by the vot-
ers, the charge seems to have some
truth back of it.
Wage Scale the Hardest Problem.
The biggest question today, of course,
is that of the change in the wage scale.
If wages are reduced a strike is feared,
and if they are not reduced the con-
tinuance of high freight and passenger
rates is feared, and if some of the rail
road managers tell the truth bank
ruptcy of the railroads is feared. The
cabinet is concerned over all these
questions.
The President eventually will make
his recommendations to congress on
this great railroad subject. He has been
studying the thing personally ever
since he was elected. He has had advice
from all quarters. He has read, il is
said, all that the railroad managers
have to say, all that the shippers have
to say, and all that the wage earners
have to say. He has a barrelful of infor-
nation and his problem now is to aver
age the contents of the barrel, make
allowance for overstatements and I'M
derstatements, for prejudlces and per-
haps for some actual untruths. Then
he will act in the way of recommended
ton, and of course the hope of the
business and the labor world is that
he will act In way to bring peace,
and with 1t prosperity, in the transport
tation world.
Quick Work for Soldier Relief.
President Hardings committee into
whose hands has been given the duty
of speeding up the work of relief for
the wounded, and sick soldiers of the
United States, has held its first meet
ings.
1t is possible for your correspond.
ent to give In detail the intentions Of