The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1921-11-24

1t will thus be noted that during
the years when other industries were
making 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 declined.
Roads handicapped More Than Other
Business.
2. The railroads are responsible to
the public for providing adequate
transportation. Their charges are linn
tied by public authority, and they are
in very large respect (notably for
labor) compelled to spend money on
a basis fixed by public authority. The
margin within which they are permit
ted to earn q return upon their in
Vestment or to offer inducements to
attract new capital for extensions and
betterments is extremely limited.
However much the railroads might
desire, therefore, to reduce their
charges in times of depression, it will
be perceived that the limitations sur
rounding their action do not permit
them to give effect to broad and elias
tic policies which might very prop
erly govern other lines of business not
thus restricted
1t has been urged upon the railroads
that reduction in rates will stimulate
traffic and that Increased traffic will pro
tect the carriers from the loss incident
to reduction in rates. The railroad
managements cannot disguise from them
selves that this suggestion is merely con-
1ectural and that adverse result OF
the experiment would be disastrous. not
only to the railroads. but TO tire public
whose supreme need Ia adequate trans
portation..
Consequently the railroad managements
cannot feel justified in placing these in
welfare. at the hazard OF such an expert
ment based solely upon such conjecture
Farmers Especially Need Lower
Rates.
It is evident. however. that existing
transportation charges bear in many
cases disproportionate relationship to the
prices at which commodities can be sold
in the market and that existing labor
and other costs OF transportation thus
impose upon industry and agriculturs
should bear. This is especially true OF
agriculture. The railroad managements
are 1celng sensitive TO and sympa the tic
with the distressing situation and desire
20 do everything to assist in relieving
ii that Is compatible with their duty 10
furnish transportation which the public
must have.
At the moment railroads in many cases
are paying 40 cents an hour for unskilled
labor when similar labor 10 working along
side the railroad and can easily be OBJ
tanned by them at 20 cents an hour The
railroads OF the country paid in 1870 n
total OF considerably over 81 800 600, ,o0e to
unskflled labor alone. However dssirn Bile
wages. 1t Is obvious that IL cannot be
paid out OF the railroad earnings unless
the industries which use the railroads are
capable Of meeting such charges.
Inc railroads, and through them the
people generally are also hampsred in their
working rules and conditions now in
force as a heritage from the period OF
Federal control and upheld by the rail-
road labor board. These conditions are
expensive, uneconomic and unnecessary
from the point Of view OF railroad opera
ton ard extremely burdensome upon the
public which pays the bill. The seheduie
OF wages and OF working conditions pre-
vents the railroads from dealing eouita-
oly with their labor and costs in accord
ance with rapidly changing conditions and
the great variety OF local considera tions
which ought to control wages in differ
eat parts OF the country. The railroads
arc seeking to have these rules and
working conditions abrogated.
Tho railroads will seek a reduction .ir,
wages now proposed by first requesting
The railroads will proceed with ali Dos.
stpie sispa tch. and as soon as the ra iIroed
ieoor Board shall have given itr asaant
- the REDUCTION In wages the general p.
eection IN rates viii be pat into effeeA