The Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1919-current, 1921-04-22
PRESIDENT MARKHAM
ASKS FOR SUSPENSION
or JUDGEMENT on RATES

President e n Markham NJ .hr
Illinois Central has written o. teu
interesting and gnIirhtpn.u letter o
the public on che subject " existing
freight rates &c. da. with 900
phases ~ the suhr.. and make, Doc
point against those who argue chat
the present rates ar. fun hrh that
even II the rates were reduced Co..
the pre.war level on cotton f boz.
stance not bale more would have
moved than has actually moved be-.
cause ~ Iow prices and armuor
in the market o. argue. chat tha
same condition exist. with commerce
and trade the country over lrd uI
rates have nothing whatever tU d1
with ths period of cuisines. depression
which b. just now beginning i0 ra..
Nor. from Do. argument ha. ans ad.
Socaie ~ "a reduction NJ rail- rate.
a. stImuIant to traffic O. r.arA o.
stand upon after reading ihr preset.
tation by this practical railroad man
H. goes ou 70 show chat che pre-
war freight rates were ra.Iy too .ow
under those rates there wa. rot 40
ficient earnings 90 make their scru
rities yield an attractive return. with.
the result that those securities we're
not taken sufficiently to enable thr.
roads 20 maintain their prapsriies al
they should and to make improve.
ments or hctiermcnts with further
result tina THE various propsriIe
now need great amount ~ money /.
spent upon them This money can
only b. bad II he road. are allowed I
% earn sufficient 10 induce investors
o. take their stocks and bonds
Even a. 10 BE-. freight rate. have
not Kept pace with the cost ~ op.
trsiion and material Since iai1.
freight rates have been Increased On
the whole about 81 per cent and nas.
senger rates about a. per cent. bot /.
during The same period railway
wages have been increased more than
100 pr cent while materials and up.
plies have increased from 600 to 200
PER ceni-and even more d
Evidently Mr Markham b. writ +
Ink % warn against pronarandsts |,
Sho seek 10 undermine confidence ,
and faith in the railroads when b.
says; /.
However. this b time when
clear thinking b. needed time 90
stand hy the principle thar gave
America the greatest and most ~ ,
eisn, systems u railways in The
World Above all t b. not o. time
10 lsnd encouragement o. those vho.
arr seeking 10 fasten permanently
upon the railways the very evils d
from which they are now struggling
b. FREE themselves |t
Undoubtedly there BE- strong
propaganda being now fosiered with d,
he evident inieniion ~ weakening
Ind breaking down he railroad. aa y.
hat The Government will take them
,ver That BE- precisely what these d
'ocialisiic "horers fum within" want
There may b. degree ~ selfish Boa. A,
crest in q also Under government Il
ontrul q was to easy to Organize a|
demonstration ami iniimidate Con-. .I
Iress that The scheme arrsar. sus. Ia
eptible u being worked arain and
Igain-pruyided The railroads can it
irst b. rutien into ihs roycrnmsrtr n
lands Then. every time vurss are
csircd 10 b. boosted 30 ulII o., easy M
W that is neccssan o. a. o. ia.
hreaien Conrrrss with "ihr railway
uts" and such raises bonuses or
ihsr demands will b, srcsd.i, forth.
ominr
But the people will have o. nsv
b. bills-e,en a. che, arr rou nay.
iT the bills fof the cyneu.Its ro,
fnmeni experiment Mr Markham
a. dons vel o. sound o. warning
gainst he Insid.ous effort iu rsarr
10 sost vasiefll add esimaFarf
'rime the world has ever sewn Ir D..
10 whole history II Transportation
b. hirh rates thc Railroads ,harr
lw are necessary legacy from
sriod Birmingham lAhl Neo