Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1921-10-20

1920 OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. .0.o2%
1t will thus be noted that during
the years when other industries were
making very large profits, when the
prices of farm products and the wages
of labor were soaring to unheard Of
heights. the earnings upon railroad in
vestment in the United States were
held within very narrow limits and
that they have, during the past four
years, progressively declined.
Roads Handicapped More Than other
Business.
The railroads are responsible to the
public for providing adequate trans
portation.
Their charges are limited by pub
lie authority, and they are in very
large respects, notably for labor"
compelled to spend money on basis
fixed by pubic authority. The margin
within which they are permitted to
earn a return upon their investment,
or to offer inducements to attract new
capital for extensions and betterments
is extremely limited.
However much the railroads might
desire, therefore, to reduce their
charges in times of depression, IL Will
be perceived that the limitations sur
rounding their action do not permit
them to give effect to broad and elias
tic policies which might very properly
govern other lines Of business not
thus restricted.
1t has been urged upon the railroads
that reduction in rates will stimulate
traffic and that increased traffic will
protect the carriers from ths loss incl
denI TO d reduction in rates. The rail-
road arrangements cannot disguise from
themselves that this Sugg estlon is merely
conjectural and that an adverse result Of
the experiment would pc disastrous , not
whose supreme need is adequate trans
portation.
Consequently the railroad managements
cannot feel justified in placing these IN
strumentalities, so essential to the public
welfare, at the hazard Of such an expert
ment based solely upon. such con-
lecture.
Farmers Especially Need Lower Rates.
1t is evident, however, that existing
transportat charges bear in many cases
q olsproportionate relationship to the
prices at which commodities can be sold
in the market, and than existing LABOR
and other costs Of aransporsatl rnuS ln
generally burden. greater than they
should bear. This Is especially true q
are feeling sensitive to and sympa thetic
with the distressing situation and desire
to do every thing to assist IN relieving
it that Is compatible with their duty to
furnish the transportation which thu
public must have.
At the moment railroads. in many
are paying - cents an nGaI ior
working alongside the railroads and can
easily be obtained by them at 20 cent?
an hour dhs railroads. q TIE nxs
81, soc, 0O0, 600 to unskilled labor alone.
However desirable it nlay be to lay this
or that schedule o. wages. q y obvious
esrnings unless the industries which use
the railroads are capable Of meeting such
The railroads. and through them the
people generally. are also hampered In
their efforts to ecOnomixe By schedule
force 0' IS heritage from ' i the period q
Federal control and upheld by the Rail-
| road Labor Board.
nomic and unnecessary from the point Of
view OF railroad operation. and extreme
| " bnrdensome upon the public, which
| 81 working conditions prevents the rail-
| roads from. dealing eGuitably With their
labor costs In accordance with rapidly
7en2uK1n& eOHulliOu6 ana %fle &Fedt xAklokt
/ OF local considerations which ought n
control wages in different parts M The
! country. The railroads are seeking to
have these rules and working condittons
| abrogated.
TIE railroads will seek reduction IL
| wages now proposed BY first &requestfng
| Board. Ths railroads win proceed with
| an possible disp&tch. and - Soon a. the
! Railroad Labor Board shAll have giyen ~
eral reduction n rates VIII T. put lnts
effect.