The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-10-21

1t will thus be noted that during the
years when other industries were 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 in
vestment in the United States were
held within very narrow limits and
that they have during the past four
years progressively declined.
The Roads Handicapped More Than
Other Business.
2.-The railroads are responsible to
the public 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
| a basis fixed by public authority. The
margin within which they are per-
mitted to earn a return upon their in
vestment or to offer inducements to at
| tract new capital for extensions and
! betterments is extremely limited. How
| ever much the railroads might desire,
| therefore, to reduce their charges in
times Of depression, it will be perceiv-
ed that the limitations surrounding
their action do not permit them to
give effect to broad and elastic policies
which might very property govern
other lines Of business not thus re-
stricted
1t has been urged upon the rail-
roads that a reduction in rates will
stimulate traffic and that increased
traffic will protect the carriers from
the loss incident to a reduction in
rates The railroad arrangements can
n hop oil bat ic
suggestion is merely conjectural and |
that an adverse result of the expert
ment would be disastrous not only to
the railroads, but to the public, whose
supreme need is adequate transporta-
ton Consequently the railroad man.
agement cannot feel justified in plac-
ing these instrumentalitieS, SO essen
tial to the public welfare, at the hazard
of such an experiment based solely
upon such a conjecture
Farmers Especially Need Lower Rates.
1t is evident, however, that exist
ing transportation charges bear in
many cases disproportionate rela-
to the prices at which COM
can be sold in the market and
that existing labor and other costs of .
thus imposed upon in
dustry and agriculture generally bur-
den greater than they should bear. :
This is especially true of agriculture.
The railroad arrangements are feeling
to and sympathetic with the !
distressing situation and desire to do
to assist in relieving it :
hat is compatible with their duty to !
furnish transportation which the pub
ic must have. =
m ant no In v,,o |
Eases are paying 40 cents an hour for
lnskilled labor when similar labor is :
working alongside the railroad andScaQ {
asily be obtained by them at 20 cehB
N hour The railroads of the country =
aid in 1920 a total of considerably !.
yer $1,000, 100000 to unskilled labor
lone. However desirable it may be .
0 pay this or that schedule of wages, 4
is obvious that it cannot be paid out
railroad earnings unless the in q
ustries which use the railroads are 4
apable OF meeting such charges. :
The railroads, and through them the q
eople generally, are also hampered in =
leir efforts to economic by
,hedule OF working rules and condi- .
ons now in force as heritage from the =
eriod of federal control and upheld
' the railroad labor board
These conditions are expensive, I'M q
'onomic and unnecessary from the :
'int of view OF railroad operation and =
.tremely burdensome on the public, q
hich pays the bill. This schedule of !
ages and Of working conditions pre-
nts the railroads from dealing equit- q
ly with their labor costs in accord y
ce with rapidly changing conditions
d the great variety of local consider q
ions which ought to control wages in ).
'ferent parts OF the country. The
ilroads are seeking to have these -
les and working conditions abro- :
ted.
The railroads will seek reduction e
wages now proposed by first re- .
esting the sanction OF the railroad
,or board. The railroads will pro- e
I'd with all possible dispatch, and =
soon as the railroad labor board
Ill have given its assent to the re- =
,tion of wages the general reduc- u
q In rates will be put into effect. y