Arizona republican., 1921-12-17

today The railroad management is desirous of putting the same going wage thar is applicable to similar occupations As to what this means in dollars and cents, let me read you just one item from the Interstate shows that the last three months of 1920, the carriers employed 276,S29 track laborers, receiving $3.7S for an eight hour day, and 121,1S7 other la borers, at the rate of $4.33 per eight hour day, while individuals and con- tractors adjoining our facilities were employing men who were glad to work for s1.S0 and S2.50 per ten hour day. Could we have been free to employ such labor as we desired, the saving would have amounted to S600.0O per day to the railroads in the United States.
 I wish to call your attention to the action of the railroad executives in voluntarily offering 10 per cent re- duction in freight rates for a period of six months provided that corres- bonding reductions would be made in labor. Also Q 1y Der cent reduction will be made on all products of the soil, such as hay, grain. fruits and vegetables
 May we ask your cooperation, and thought and support for the working out and adjusting of this very com pHcated situation that the basic in dustry of the United States sis now confronted with.
 We need recognition of the fact that the railroads, whatever else they may be, are business enterprises and must be run or business principles if disaster l. to be avoided. A req sonable return on the investment, over operating expenses, must be had or you will force us to the wall
 Again returning to statistics of the Arizona Eastern properties: Our gross income for 10 months of this year was $2 314.97S. Our operating expenses and taxes amounted to s2.31S.OS5. Leaving net loss of S3,1O7 to pay interest on from s15,- 100000 to $20, ,00O of property, and at the same time raise about s14O,OO0 for additions and bet$erments this money not being available from oper- ating reven es.
 Il listened with interest to a former speaker when he stated the farmer must have a pos tive return on his product and per cent interest on the value of his cotton land, say on $350 valuation per acre.
 I recall statement made by the chairman of your mines committee:
 The mines seek no favors but ask for a square deal for one and all alike" This is the slogan of the railroads also-but not the operators of the ships on the ocean or inland waterways, nor the automobile oper- ating over your concrete highways These demarH patriotism from the United State and state governments They demand that they be furnished
 with free roadway, low taxation; 1 then camouflage by crying high 1 freight rates, although the subsidy 1 given them is from 25 to 40 per cent | over the conditions that meet every railroad executive.
 You have the power through your constituted authorities to obtain ev- | cry detail relating to our business | they have bower to fix just and l reasonable conditions for shipper l laborer. and railroad-then why not | have faith. We wish to cooperate | any time-a mes.
 l F. l.. Hanna of Phoenix. assistant l general freight and passenger agent | of the Santa Fe Railway company | followed with an address on The Relation of Railroads to Highway