Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-02-03
Thursday, February 8, 1921.
Climax in Railroad Situation


declare the burden cannot be borne.
Such evidence as is available shows
that the revenues from the increased
rates fall far short Of expectations;
also that in many instances rates are
now so high they discourage patron
age. Falling off in patronage means
falling off in business, idle equipment,
unemployment for operatives and ul-
tifnately, unless remedied, bankrupt
cy. That brings disaster to labor rs
well as to capital. loss of investments
and the Gripping of business. No
possible return to prosperity can be
lad under such conditions. The need
Of remedy is immediate, urgent. How
shall 1t be secured?
/ Vice President Atterbury Of the
Pennsylvania lines brought the mat
ter to focus before the Railroad Lab
or Board by asking for the immedi-
ate abrogation of the national agree
ments between the roads and their
employees, adding that few days de-
lay would throw the whole matter
into chaos. The Board. he said, had
4, mass of evidence before it and
could act if it would. He, said the
railroad executives would agree that
there should be no reduction of basic
wages for the next ninety days if this
appeal were granted. But these ma
tional agreements, rules and working
conditions forced on the roads as a
war measure, are causing gross in
efficiency, and he estimated that the
elimination of this waste would save
in a year at least three hundred mil
lion dollars. The public, he said, had
a right to insist that this saving
should be made. If the Board fol-
lowed it's present procedure months
would clapse before any remedy
would be afforded. Losses of railroad
income are irreparable and cannot be
replaced. Continuing these extraor-
binary provisions of the war period
would be in effect violation of the
promise made by President Wilson
to investors in railway securities.
The course he recommended he in
sisted is equitable and the only one
which may save the situation.
The representatives of labor reply
to this that the statement is decep-
tive and fictitious; that there is other
inefficiency far greater than three
hundred millions, that the banking
house of Morgan controls the roads :;
that the purpose is to discredit the
federal administration of the rail-
roads, which they declare to be a
creditable page in history. But why
go on? If their other objections
amount to no more than their state
nent that the Federal administration
of railroads was creditable, they
amount to nothing. Everybody that
knows anything about the railroad
situation knows that government
management of the railroads was dis
creditable, inefficient. grossly extrav-
agant and the foundation Of most of
the ills which the roads are now suf-
fering.
1t is impossible for the average per-
son to know, or for anyone not init
nately acquainted with exact condi-
tons to determine the exact merits
of the controversy, but all must real
ize that there is no justice in the
present situation to the public. that
lays the freight. Private manage
ment is held responsible for the man
agement and ways and means are
provided for ascertaining and inform
ing the public whether that man
agement is capable and fair. It
should be allowed to manage until
SUCH IiIIlS dS IT'S management is
proved unfair.
Furthermore we do know-the evil
dence has been before US for many
months--that some of the restrictions
and regulations imposed on that
management are manifestly unfair.
For ILLUSTRATION there is the case OF
rho cost of tenders at one crossing
That cost was in 1915 s3O10 for seven
days: 1t is now $s7.36 for like Pc
viod. The wage adjustment board
that fixed the conditions last July
admitted that it did a "hurry-u up
job" A "hurry-up job" is now asked,
and we believe in fairness should be
had. The board has no way of en-
forcing it's conclusions except through
the public. And it stands to reason,
even allowing that the managers are
exaggerating conditions somewhat,
that long period Of "fuddy-duddy
ing' by governmental interference
would seriously delay better business
and very probably cause the receiver
ships of several of the roads. IL not
a.national panic.
Moreover the man in the street