The New York herald., 1921-03-13
ERlF ROAD TO TRIM
lTS WORKING FORCES
Continued from First Page.

agreeine that the farmers are On the
side of tile railroads IN this problem.
The farmers already are appealing 70
the Department or Agriculture 70 DO
what il can 10 induce the new Harding
Government 70 force definite conciu-
sion between the roads and their men
80 that agriculturists map again oegn
shipping their produce at rates allowing
fair profit.
The railroad officials are saying that
the country II about TO become COM
bination of sections. They say that
under present freights farmers who ship
Al all shin short distances and TO the
nearest markets regardless OF the prices
10 be had In more distant markets, The
farmers are complaining that the freight
rates between Kansas and New York,
for instance. are SO high thar corn arr
riyos IN New York at 4 cost far IN eX-
cess Of the possible selling price. There
fore the farmers have decided to take
minute profits or no profits rather than
run into a sure loss,
Passenger rates are analyzed simi-
larly One day last week the Broad
way Limited, one Of the Pennsylvania
Railroads crack trains between New
York and Chicago, left Seventh avenue
and Thirty-third street with just eigh-
trip was made at a great loss TO the
read The Pennsylvania officials say
that people are not travelling aud thar
firms are not sending their road men
out 50 frequently or for such long trips
simply because the fares are enormous
This condition Of affairs, the railroad
officials say is another contribution 20
the reason for the coming sectioualisn
of the country.
However the worlemen are not gong
to take the gaff without fight. From
Samuel Gompers, president or the
American Federation of Labor, down
TO Big Bill Maher, business agent of
the local marine workers. the leaders
of labor are not over sanguine OF main
tanning existing wages OF common labor
under prevailing conditions. The local
marine workers employed by railroads
declare they have not been notified
that they will be required TO take a
decrease in pay but expect some such
proposition. What they intend doing
remains to be seen after the labor
board hands down its decision. Under
the Esch-Cummins bill the eight hour
day must remain as it stands. The
only alternative is a reduction in wages.
This week the labor side of the con-
troversy purposes starting its argument.
Mass meetings will be called in all
localities affected. To counteract state
ments issued by the railroads the labor
leaders purpose issuing statements. As
one leader leader put 1t:
The public is about 10 have increased
opportunity of becoming confused. We
do not accuse the railroads OF lying or
disseminating misleading propaganda,
and we shall not do SO. But il is going
to require all the public's attention and
concentration to learn the whole truth. =
From Flemington, n. j., yesterday
came the news that the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western Railroad has
lowered freight rates to dairymen in the
upper Delaware River sector. The Gun
varies from two and one-half cents to
seven cents can and makes II possible
now for New Jersey dairymen to COM
pete with Pennsylvania and New York
State shippers for the New York city
milk business.