The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1921-03-30
BACK TO HARD WORK

IN a recent interview. portions of which appeared in The Evening
Herald. senator Albert u Cummirs. joint author Of the Esrh-
> Cummus ART, points ont that the railroads can bee gotten back on
their feet only through hotter management and reduced cost of "p'
ration. senator Cummiu> said, among other things:
Railroad operating expenses. that is 10 say the expenses 81
maintenance and operation. are TOO high. Giving all IN" weight
which can be- given To the diminished traffic 1t will not account for
the negligible income which the year will show. Neither win it sui
flee TO say that critical comparison of the railway pcrform""," for
the year just closing with the railway performance under federal CON
troll. is exceedingly lavoraby TO private management. That r"mp"r'
iou. however satisfactory to those who hclcy" in prlvai" ownership
under public control. docs NOT solve the problem. and repeat mat
there 8, bat one conclusion TO be- drduccd.
Obviously it is tina, it is costing the railroads too much to earn
the money which they are earning. This may be- dine. of course, 20
m>nanagcucrt. or to Iuofi"'ucy, or il may b" du" to tn" excessive
cost Of material and supplies or To- unreasonable" compensation r"Id
TO those. from president down. whose labor operates Ines" roads
people of Inc country must have, ta" question have proposed must
be- answered. # must be- answered speedily, wisely, and Justly. It
will he found, think, that the answer docs not Il" m til" mann with
additional LEGISLATION. hut in the prompt and fair administration of
existing law
That s%ensihc-bur not as easy a, i sounds
Consolidation OF the roads into about II regional systems, as
va,,of1ii cormn"iirion and needless duplication of cnort.
steel prices, another large item in railroad costs. are abnormaIly
high compared with other commodities They mus fail
More efficient management Of the railroads Cmmnins believes,
'cauuot 10" brought about by law. II must com" by ttr oprnn" Of
the eyes of The ro,rnaa, real owners the Stockholders
\ s~tuckhodcr. however. is not apt tn worry much atoui man
ascIucut ~ long as hc is sure Of his dividends. as cougrc,, tried to
insure under the transportation at Of l920-whch hasn't worked
II may he that the qnckcs, way to make the railroads buck mp
ton as now exists in which even q guaranty Of profits docsn Z mean
much. If the roads skip a few dividends tn" stockholders may stir
mp some excitement al headquarters.
The situation is not altogether black. Steam coal prices have
dropped. That will save the roads man, millions this year. Freight
and passenger traffic IT, bad, but these viii increase as business rr
wives: and business IS rcyiyng now.
The railroads, like pretty much every ono els" in or country,
lr up or Li dowu-dnring tn" period Of imitation. In manage
mcnt. before. during and after the period of federal operation, it was
q -lc,tiou Of how 10 turn down business rather than how to get d.
Ia operation the employees. since the passage of the AdamSon act
have only had TO ask for what they want i'm the way of wages and
working conditions to get H. The public has had everything but
service and lower rates.
senator tummius Is right Merely passing more laws cannot
help the ralroads Like everyone elise tho railroads. management
and employees. have got 10 go back 10 hard work; management u
order 20 earn reasonable return and employees for % reasonable wag.
and under reasonable working conditions.
\ feather bed is pleasant. but too much Indulgence in its com
forts is cuoryatug
The beneficial result, obtained from regular and systematic at
tru'iuu 90 the woodpllr have been demonstrated too often 10 leHv,
them open 20 question.
We have reached the stage n mi. nation where those Of us win.
have forgotten how TO work at the woodprc have got 70 learn ou
over uuam.