Evening journal., 1921-10-06

,j the present unemployment confer
ence has been to impress on everyone
the unlimited interdependency Of our
various industries Not that the
general fact was unknown or unex-
( pected. but the conference has
brought the fact forward with start.
ling distinctness.
Your industry is no exception tt
this. but on the contrary is probably
one of the most conspicuous exam
pies. 1t would appear that the only
thing which kept you going. as an
lindustry, during some of the past
years has been the very necessity
of your service in order that the res
OF the community could progress
and function industrially and So
,ciaily.
When l speak of ''your industry
mean and visualize the urban and
J sginterurban transportation business
Ii For 1 assume at the outset that, eX-
n ccpt for the natural desire TO pro-
Meet your reasonable investment in
! ALWAYS as such, YOU Iecognize youI
| Responsibility [. furnish To a com
I nunity the transportation which b.
\ necessary for its development and
success irrespective of what phys-
cal agency you may deem best 10
/ ptilize for the purpose.
But. even with the necessity OF
your service Recognized, you are. !
I, understand. in a critical condition
I though in a way which differs from
tire condition OF other industries in
! Nmany respects.
The condition OF your industry f.
/ indeed critical in many respects. The
whole condition has arisen. at least
in part, it seems to me, from a lack
OF appreciation both on the part Of
the general public and your own
nart. Of the basis interdependenoe. Of
4 your industry and the rest Of the
Industries OF the community and
country.
Some OF tho data which bear upon
this are astonishing and conclusive
OF the point.
Ill You represent fixed inves m sni
Z said to be about $4,000. 100000, upon
1 which a great deal OF industrial and
other business credit is based.
You employ some 100000 men in
normal times.
You burn annually over 100000
4 tons OF coal.
a You have a gross income. esti-
mated for 1920. OF some S955,00O.00u
4 of which approximately 6 per cent.
= OF nearly $50, 900 900 is repaid TO the
n communities in taxes. not to mention
the paving maintenance which mos
Of you carry.
You pay out over $500. 100000 IN
wages which is used principally foi
u purchasing commodities and the pro
Il ducts OF other industries.
You buy directly supply mater.a
which costs another $500. 100000.
You buy. In normal times, another
5000. .OOO.O worth for extensions
requirements, etc.
You transport, each year. from
$4,000. 900, 900 TO 5000. 100000 pas
eengers-twelve times as many az
the steam railroads
The very marshaling OF this data
indicates the close relation yoIr In
# dustry has to other Industries, and
ii its Importance 10 the nation.
There is another element 10 you
service, too, which must not be over
II looked. and that is the housing sit
3. uation-the adequate planning o
N community life. AS you who hav
M developed the industry realize. tn
III only factor which makes possible
ll healthy expansion Of housing facili
ties beyond the confines OF congeste'
city districts is that adequate trans
a portation be available.
81 I mention all these facts, most o
them OF everyday knowledge. to yoi
y for the purpose Of emphasizing tn
close interdependence OF your indus
81 try and the industrial life OF IN
community.
81 The public. on It's part, not onf
must recognize your service in re
lation to other industries ana busi
NJ, nesses, but must recognize YOU n
an industry ana a business subjec
II 70 the impact Of economic laws tina
M dominate the other industries an
businesses
To be sure. the classification o
III your business as a public utility ha
entailed regulation OF rates designe
5 TO take the place OF competitio
which Is In the main absent, and IN
teliigent regulation realizes the nee