The Washington herald., 1921-05-19

lists today. This was not and couId
not be so a year ago following the
excesses OF war time and the de-
moralized state of the organization
as II was turned aver by the Rail-
road Administration.
The SPECIFIC charge that railroads
were inefficiently managed he took
up at length. He acknowledged
freely the desirability of lifting the
worst to the standard of the best,
but as a practical man he urged
the impracticability of sweeping ap-
pilcat1on of formulas that fit spe-
cine instances. He illustrated his
point by the efficiency formulas of
agriculture which are fully tested
and widely known. such as protec-
tion of crops from rodents, better
blooded milch cows, better seeding
ana skill to increase cereal yield.
These formulae are all acknowledge
ed and generally understood; they
oner large total of possible saw
lngs out these fabulous millions
are not realized. This is because
of specific impracticabilities that de-
Velop locally. He indicated that to
erect the savings suggested would
require enormous outlays and the
railroads have difficulty at present
In financing expenses. He called
attention to the scope of the Amer
lean Railway Association facilities
for research and the actual work
accomplished by the different COM
mittees of experts.
No Theories Used.
The witness INDUCED in no gen.
civilizations nor theories. His tes-
timony was simple narrative. But,
as he said, he recognized that the
committee represented the highest
tribunal, short of Congress itself,
before which 70 present the situa-
ton in all its aspects to make for
a better understanding. He there
fore tried to meet directly criti-
cisms based on misconceptions in
the public mind Thus he smoke
or the salaries Of railway execu-
tiVes and. of his own specifically,
which he knew had been criticised.
He felt that arbitrary limitations
placed on salaries would deprive
the railroads of their best men
He deplored the disposition to re-
sent liberal compensation to a
railroad man which in other indus-
tries was taken for granted. and
sometimes pointed to with pride as
instances of personal achievement.
He had advised his own son aeains,
entering the railroad business he
cause ne felt the chances for re-
ward were being narrowed. And
whereas formerly each year num-
pers or college men were applying
TO enter the service, there now
were few applications and he was
disposed to discourage those who did
apply. -"
He also alluded to the nubIio
Jealousy Of railroad mems invest
ments. which forced a railroad of-
hcer to place his money in busines.
with which he was not familiar he
cause he could not be trusted to
use his funds in any field remoterv
connected with the railroad bust
ness.
Throughout his testimony m.
witness evidently sensed in the
present situation a challenge In tne
thrltt initiative and enterprise that
mas been promoted by the institu-
tlon of private property. Under
meath the phenomena recorded bv
the statistician is in process a
snlttlng of fundamental concep-
tions. affecting the rights OF private
property. the status and compensa-
ion of the worker and the rcwards
of the enterpriser. The witness 10
a hrm believer in public regulation
ana confirmed optimist in every
statement made, but the facts ~
mis- testimony bear directly on the
oroad question of the feasibility of
regulation itself in actual working
he made no criticisms nor implica-
tions of any kind, but the facts
disclosed raise the question in the
pubic mind how effectively the
regulatory agencies may have func-
tloned-haVe they been meticuIous
ABOUT tribes and blind to the large
issues have they responded in
stantly and understandingIy to sit
uations as they developed or have
they been dilatory.
The witness was clear and '.x
plicit in his facts and entirely faar
less. He spoke from directly prar-
teal understanding and was aler,
10 most Of the larger phases of his
problem, but save for his denend-
ency on present agencies he Or
tered no solution, looking tn the
quick restoration OF railroad credit
and the arrangements OF nron.
critics in principle and the reaIloca-
ton of function among water. bigb
way and rail carriers that wnnI5
promote the fullest function NJ the
transportatlon system and most
perfectly mtegrate it with the in
10 4, IL.