The Connecticut labor news., 1921-09-02
No Opportunity for Discussion of Colossal Raid Given but $5oo,ooo,- 900 Is Voted Because Rail Barons Asked for It.
By CHARLES M. KELLEY.

By CHARLES M. KELLEY.
 Washington, Sept. 2-The bill giv- ing $5oo,ooo,ooo to the railroads. for no better reason than that the railway managers asked for it, has been ap- proved by the House of Representa- tives. When it came from commit tee house leaders sidetrackcd a mass of important legislation and gave it's exclusive attention to a subject that at best will benefit but a small group of citizens.
 No opportunity was presented for a free discussion of the merits of this colossal raid upon the treasury, con sideration being confined to four hours. The opposition was gagged while the proponents of the measure drove it through under whip and spur.
 There was time, however, for few clear-thinking members of Congress to tear away the cloak of hypocrisy and misrepresentation that has ob scured the real object of this grant All pretense that 1t was intended to abandoned by its supporters when they were given chance to prove their good faith with the public.
 The suggestion was made that it be made a condition of this subsidy that it shall be expended, in part al least, in repairing the railroads motive power and for maintenance, that the carriers may be in shape to meet the nations transportation needs when called upon to do so. This proposal did not reach first base, however, for the gentlemen who engineered the deal knew that the managers do not intend to make use of the govern ments generosity for any such pur- pose. The money is to aid specula ton, to give the bankers and other tracts and gratis.
 action on the bill until after recess, which will put it off until the middle of October, at the very earliest. The prospects are that 1t will not have final action until after the first of the year. That, of course, precludes the possibility that the money that IS to be made available can be devoted to any constructive program. What IS done to improve transportation con- ditions and also the condition of mil lions of workers must be done at once. January will be too late to res cue either the railroads or their em- ployes. The managers are aware of this fact and so are congressman, but they follow through with their game of make-believe and expect the public to fall for it, without protect.
 Let's Cat Out of Bag.
 Thomas Dewitt Cuyler, president of the Association of Railway Execu tives Jet the "cat out of the bag" the other day when he stated that the railroads were not making the return guaranteed by the CumminsEsch bill When the year is ended the car riers will be just about $500, 100000 short of the sum needed to pay an average six per cent. dividend. With remarkable foresight, the speculator- bankers who dominate the railroad situation have made provision for dividend requirements long before the real need for them arrives. The easy grace with which they consented to postponement of final action until Congress reconvenes is abundant evi- dence that the plea that funds were required to get the railroads in shape was out for public consumption, to make it easier for subservient Con- gress to justify their betrayal with their constituents.
 Let this deal be understood for what it is. It Is a fragrant and de liberate misrepresentation of the pub lies money, at a time when the na- ton is straining every financial re- source to make ends meet. It takes from the treasury a half billion dol lars when treasury notes in reams are being passed over to brokers 1t puts the government behind a small inter est at the sacrifice of all the rest of the people.
 Congressmen will have right-sound- ing fairy tales for the people back home, but it will be proven again, as it was shown when the full iniquity of the Cummins-Esch act was reveal ed, that Congress, as now constituted, is simply an adjunct to Wall street, registering its will with such painful regularity that there is. a danger irreparable injury will be done before the public has it's innings.
 Congress has sacrificed the national interest turned it's back upon the farmers and millions of unemployed workers, has neglected everything