The border vidette., 1921-10-29
READY TO BUILD RAILROAD.
President Titcomb Writes Interesting
 Letter to c. of c.

The 1OIlOW1nR interesting let ter to the Nogales Chamber of Commerce. has been received by Secretary J. B. Bristol:
 It is true that the interests which I represent are quite desirous of extending our line through to Guadalajara, and I reiterate what has been said by my predecessor and what I have already stated to the Nogales Chamber of Commerce, that we are prepared to go ahead with this work if suitab ble conditions are brought about and the settle the money SO obtained to be put into the extension and rehabili tation of our line.
 I regret that it has been i'm possible for me to leave for Mexico City because of the threatened strike of railroad em. ployes in the United States.
 It may not be amiss to briefly state the attitude of the railroads with reference to this unprece dented situation, the principal points being as follows:
 Under the Transportatio tion Act as passed by Congress, the Interstate Commerce .Commis, sion fixes the value of the rail roads, which values are to be used as the basis for the estab- lishment of freight ard passen- ger rates, and these freight and passenger rates are eSta bliShed by the Interstate Commerce Commission. Rates cannot be altered without the approval and without a hearing before the aforesaid tribunal.
 Under the Transportation Act, the Labor Board was estab. lished to review the working conditions of labor, their rates of pay, etc., and adjust such rates of pay with the working conditions in the localities traversed by the railroads.
 "The Transportation Act fur ther provides permissive 5. 2 per cent that may be retained by the railroads in case they are able (by efficient management and under the restriction in rates and labor conditions as above outlined) to make it. Another 1-2 of 1 per cent, if made, must be put in additions and better. ments of the properties. In other words, the company is on ly allowed a maximum of 2 per cent and is guaranteed noth. ing, and it is a known fact that the railroads of the United States today are making less than per cent on the valuations and under the conditions imposed by the Transportation Act refer red to. The railroads, therefore, are accepting and carry their part of the general depression of the United States business situation at the present time.
 "You are undoubtedly familiar with the action of the Labor Board when as of July 1, 1921. If the membership vote is in lawful necessary majority to leave the service under the re. duced wages now in effect, they will on any or all lines where such vote is secured. OS RlV0u dSCSSSdIV O1 the President of the Grand Lodge.'
 ''It is therefore clearly strike against a regularly constituted body of the Congress of the United States.
 II am advised that through out the United States large ship pers have signitied their willing ness to subordinate their inter ests by accepting possible delays to traffic, and many business men have volunteered their ser vices in, not only helping to protect American citizens who are willing to work, but to ac tually assist in manning and operating trains.
 II lay these matters briefly before the honorable Chamber of Commerce of the City of No gales in order that it may be- come acquainted with the situa- tion and as business men take such action not only by resolu- tion but by actual participa tion, in order that the transportation system of the United States may not be tied up with resultant t loss to all our commercial in- terests.s
 II hope to drop down to Mo-