Imperial Valley press., 1921-10-25

1t will thus be noted that during the
years when other industries we're max:
ing very large profits, when the prices
Of farm products and the wages Of
labor were soaring to unheard OF
heights. the earnings upon railroad
investment In the United States were
held within very narrow limits and
that they have during, the past four
years progressively decliped.
Roads Handicapped More Than Other
Business.
2. The railroads are responsible to
the pVblic for providing adequate
transportation. Their charges are
limited by public authority, and they
are In very large respects (notably for
labor compelled to spend money on q
basis fxed by lublic authority. The
margin within which they are per.
mitted to earn a, return upon their In
vestment or to offer. fnduceme ents to
attract new capital for extensions and
betterments Is extremely limited
However much the railroads might
desire. therefore, to reduce thsly
charges in times Of depression. It win
be perceived that the limitations sur:
rounding their action do not permit
them to give effect to broad and elastic
policies which might very properly
govern other lines Of business not thus
restricted.
1t has been urged upon the railroads
that q roduCt3op IN rat A. 1,v{lI ~ j,,, ,,l . n
traffic and that increased traffic will
protect the carriers from loss incident
to reduction In rates.
The railroad managements cannot
disguise from Themselves that this
suggestion is merely conjectural and
that an adverse result Of the. expert.
ment would be disattrous not only to
the railroads. but to the public, whose
supreme need Is adequate transporta.
tion.
Consequently the rsilroad manage.
ments cannot feel justiAed IN placing
these instrumentalities. 90 essential 70
the public welfare. 1t the hazard Of
such an experiment based solely upon
such a conjecture.
Farmers Especially Need Lower Ratss,
II is evident, however, that EXISTING
transportation charges bear In .fa1ny
cases q dispropcytiohats re!ftios.ship -tc
sold In the market and that existine Iabef
and other coSts Of transposta tlon thus In
posed upon industry and Agriculture. gen:
bear. This is especially true of asricui.
ture. The railroad manag ements are feel
ing sensitive 70 ana symI:thstis with the
everything to assist In rsiieyinT Il tha4 q
Transportation which the puSas saS:' :s
At the moment railroads in many casAe
labor when sirnilar labor 10 workinE SlonG
.ss.d :ds rs s. fssrses se q.
0ss. tos.i q .eeadsf.Sis :. ls % H.
S. e pay s. q
wages. Il Is cbvioas thatsst ecnnos Be
paid out Of railroad easntnGa ynliSs tie
,ads. psSls q sssins "i asS sseh ss eh.sss ssss
The railroads. ana through them tAeI
tSsE s{css. & .eensziss :sx XII sy|s|
q fore. = ss esd s sSs p.scs
i:S fss q ~ ss.
Il. sxs psiSs Snsssass .ss eS
nee e veE isSEs:!y s:g. IKE S' ~ ue
wasss va nan s,sd q 81 wcrkins eenl55iens SrSvshss
thS.te.lfeAds ftor9 dsslin & savstt Az vtthl
idiy ehanEtHE eondtyi iens asd theT Tsrsat
vaf1sty ,of 1ocsl eonSi4eret4cnf Wh3eh oakh:
to.eentrN Tagss ih dlf{eE8ht ~ .ef ne
hsSs tAs:s rulss sas ~eslaAs seasiaens
IA: I:s;as ~ 'ss* 'sssss!ss !;
tie. saneAon oI the FailrcaA labpr Noefd
Tte railroads WI procee4-ytih N ppe
sibls MspstcA, aAd Z. soon as the fiilj
sent te the reduction Of ya6SS (AA esnS
eral reduction In rates VIII 10 put mt,
efIecS. = -- .,
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