The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1921-10-27

the railroads must be operated honestly and efficiently and
enoned upon the Interstate Commerce Commission the
setting of system of rates which, if in the judgment OF
the Interstate Commerce Commission justified by develop
ments will insure until March, 1922 not less than 51a upon
the valuation of the properties of the railroads to be
tanned by the Interstate Commerce Commission and if the
Commission deems it necessary, is to allow additional
ceh of per cent provide for additions and better
ents to be used the service of the public being total OF
f but condition precedent honest and efficient opera
ton be had according to the law There guaran
tee in this in any The Interstate Commerce Commits
on only to attempt to bring about such percentage re-
cep If they try honestly and fail because Of business
dOns changing that is all that necessary their part
Nobody has make good any deficiencies to the railroads
insofar this Company concerned has fallen far short
of earning Ga since the law went into effect which Sep
TENDER 1st 1920 to this particular division Honest and
efficient operation demands that pay such wages
are justified by the conditions If the conditions require
change wages must be made by the railroads. just has
been made in other industries but such change only be
made after full and complete investigation by the United
States Labor Board Surely the have their protection
against aggression such they may fear by these provisions
of the law If the deem reasonable and fair that they
should receive increase wages the future the
law protects them obtaining what is due them evidenced
IN the of Decision No. 2, issued July, 1920
Persistent effort has recently been made the part of
shippers and others to bring about reduction in freight
rates. The railroads have canvassed this situation and de-
mned concusve themselves that such reduction only
from reduction expenses Any other method only
produce disastrous results insofar most railroads
crned which results will also be disastrous to the employees
of the railroads The stock argument that the volume of
business will be increased by the lowering Of rates that the
relief for the roads will from such increased business
The railroads convinced after exhaustive investigation
that the volume cannot increase because the present ua
ton the result of readusment due to the and repre-
sents essenng in business caused by that and
not by freight rates Surely the railroads could be expected
to take the action of lowering freight rates if they felt that
such additional business could be produced it would be
good business proposition to do This does not mean
that rate should be lowered the contrary there have
been many rates lowered and there will be time goes
which will be found necessary to lower account Of
raHon I,o,,
yegated and had that they really necessary
and advisable and will produce the desired results
This all put before you that you may realize first the
persistent effort that is being made reduce freight rates.
and second that you may understand that the principal way
to obtain the low rates that the people demand by reducing
our expenses and the wage part OF our expenses only be
reduced after orderly procedure before the constituted body
Surely you protected in this.
the facts stated herein true and the opin-
ions given are based best knowledge and belief this
would that they show good reasons on your part
for hesang before taking important step of severng
your connection with the Company, which strike entails
all the concerned at the development of this stua
ton because of its possible interference with plans which
have formed looking toward mutual benefit to be brought
about by closer aaton between you and your Company
which had expected to base upon strong foundation of
mutual confidence and believe that the future of
the railroads lies in this closer union between employee and
employer and had confidently counted upon achieving re-
suits every way dsprOportOnate to the effort required TO
produce such desirable status ask you therefore to
rou ponder the situation and weigh well your action
teore coming to conclusion When you have considered
feel that your mature judgment will reach the conclusion
that strike along such lines is absolutely untenabe and
not possibly be the of benefit to those involved It is
hard to contemplate that of the character of
the working for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway many
OF whom have spent long in its service will feel
that loyalty mpes them to decline to join in such an issue
particularly because of the fact that readusment must come
end all must share in that readustmen including employees
officers stockholders and every participating in the man.
sgemen and operation of the Company.
OF course if our men leave the service We must comply
with the legal duty which rests upon Of operating the prop
erty, in order that the public NAV be served
W. j. HARAHAN
Adyertlsement President