Twin city review. [volume] (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-1929, 1921-01-14

taken a new tact. II induced Senator
4 F'relinghuysen TO introduce bill
amending the Clayton act, hoping
! that il would get by with the same
/ easy facility that the vetoed resolu-
ton had negotiated the legislative
channels. Again their plan mlsear-
ried, For those who were prepared 10
discuss the veto are also ready 10 dis
euss the latest railroad bill. and dis
cussion is just what the railroad
crowd does not want.
The Frelnghuysen bill IL denounced
by Messrs. Clark and Meyers, of the
Interstate Commerce Commission, a.
lacking adequate safeguards for The
protection of the public. They sly
that jokers written into 1t by clever
railroad attorneys WILL II enacted de
feat the purpose of the antitrust Sec
ton. In other words. under the guise
of protecting the public, the railroad
group Is actually bestowing upon the
railroads legal right to loot and
graft. A more monstrous measure
never was presented In Congress.
That IL is even being considered Is
proof positive of the low state of law
making morals.
! II Is not surprising that the spon-
sors OF this measure desire nothing
quite as much as secrecy II the pub
lie could but appreciate what Is con
templated Ii Is inconceiyuble that
Congress would dare go through with
its program. For there can be but
one opinion among honest men as to
the desirability OF relieving railroad
officials from temptation. Official rec
! ords reek with recitals of dishonesty
I and mismanagement, costing the PEG
/ pie hundreds of millions of dollars.
| There are many people who may sin
cerely believe that some special vir-
tue inheres in private operation of the
railroads. but not for one moment
would they tolerate the suggestion
that private management without its
lconcomitant of private greed and
graft is an impossibility.
Raids Are Under Way.
As proof of what is in the minds of
railroad chiefs. attention is directed
to recent disclosures affecting the
awarding of supply contracts by cor
porations to concerns In which Off
Gals have a direct interest
Nearly 700 engines requiring repairs
have been allotted to private loco
motive concerns. more than two.thirds
to the Baldwin's. at prices from four
to six times in excess OF what these
repairs would cost were they made In
the railroads own shops. This SEN
sational disclosure is embodied In data
gathered by the Interstate Commerce
Commission and its now the subject OF
further inquiry
The Pennsylvania railroad has sent
200 locomotives TO Baldwin's, and for
each engine the repair bill Is slightly
less than $4,000. Similar repairs made
in the Pennsylvania shops by the
railroad administration under federal
control cost S4.466. The New York
Central has favored Baldwins with
sixty-one engines at higher construc-
ton cost and greater disparity be
tween shop and private concern cost
Congressman Huddleston. placing
these facts before the House Of Rep
resentatives. declared that II this
practice is not checked 1t will cos
the American people annually not
less than S500.000,000 He stated
that the public is just beginning 10
realize the iniquity Of the transporta
ton act. II aceords unlimited oppor-
tunities tor graft, but gives scant at
tention to the welfare OF those who
use and buy transportation
In its attempt TO defend these graft
ing transactions railroad officials
have pleaded that repairs were urg-
entity required and that they felt iust!-
ned IN paying high prices that engines
might be Immediately restored 70 the