Evening journal., 1921-04-30
SATURDAY, APRIL 80, 1921
SAVING A BILLION A YEAR.

SAVING n UltiON \ fhfh
TIME RAILWAY AGE analyses at LENGTH in hs current
issue. the charges made before the Railroad Labor
Board by W. lett Lsuck behalf OF the railroad labor
unions that the railways wasting siOO0OOOOOOl
year by mismanaeement The labor leaders contend that
no economies whatever should be effected by reductions
in the railroad payroll until an these alleged wastes have
been eliminated
The largest Item In Mr.. LaucRs estimated possible saw
ngs says the Railway Age is one 2725OOOO which ne
claims could be made by undermining locomotives" The
estimate like others he makes merely Wild guess based
upon no tangible evidence He says there available
locomotive devices which have demonstrated beyond ques
zion their ability to effect large savings There about
5000 locomotives In the United states Even the oldest
OF the oldest OF the devices which he refers have been
available in practical form for only about ten years and
others for shorter periods In this comparatively brief
time 5000 locomotives have been equipped with super
heaters, 1900 with brick arches 81 600 with automatic
e doors and 1900 with power gears. Many other
improvements have been made.
Never before steam locomotives and the service
rendered by them improved much in the length
in the United states In the last ten years And yet be-
all locomotives have been made perfect, Mr.
Lauck roundly abuses the railways for alleged msman-
agement"
As TO needed improvements in locomotives and In engine
terminals the installation OF machine tools in shops the
Improvement OF power plants and many other things
mentioned by Mr.. Lauck, they be made only by the
Of large amounts OF new capital New capital
be raised only II the net operating earned
to pay upon H. The only way the net return Of the
railways be made adequate by reduction Of the
present operating expenses, OF which two-ihrds are
But Mr. Lauck opposes all reductions in the pay
roll He denounces the railroads FOR alleged due
10 mismsnasement and opposes the only by which
they can eliminate the larger part OF the alleged wastes
many Of which unfortunately do exist
The kind OF intelligence and fairness shown BY Mr. Lauck
is Illustrated By what he says about train operation"
High powered locomotives have been developed with
zeal" he remarks, but the corresponding efficiency OF
train loading has been overlooked" Now, the fact is
hat the average freight train increased from i75
IONS n 1915 70 28 tons in 1870 SO per cent ye
years. and Mr. Lauoks clients IN esbor unions did
al hey could TO defeat his efficiency by trying
70 secure ihe passage o. legislation requiring the en-
pioyment Of extra train crews or legislation re-
1Dcins and absolutely limiting The length OF freight trains
and thereby reducing and limiting their loads
Among the largest items IN Mr.. Laucks list of esil
mated savings is FOR loss and damage Being de-
Tender Of unified control makes no refer
10 the fact that the increase In freight claim pay
ments from 100000 IN i9f7 to siO6SOiOO in 1910 Of
s6 per cent, occurred under government control n
quotes the Railway age authority Tor the ssiemen
That nffy per cent reduction can be made in loss an,
1amage. He makes no mention whatever. however or th
fact that Immediately after the return OF the railways q
private operation The American Railway Association or
sanIzed and has been CONDUCTING specsi bureau fr On,
"a
nfiy cent the item OF loss damage which
developed under government control
Even though all the capital to make the improve
mens In railway plants required 10 effect the economies
which Mr. Lauck denounces the railways FOR not making
we're available It would take years 10 make the improve
nents. H. therefore reduction IN NE payroll were 10
pc made as Mr. Lauck contends should be case until
All uese other economies had been effected the present
oh would have 70 be maintained for years regardless
~ intrinsic reasonableness, its effect upon freight
and passenger rates
ons % more Mr. Lauos's documents are studied nv per-
be sno" anything about the railroad business
~ ~. aunrauon they will have for the colossal g,ll
!, snovn Dy the way he has dealt with The nro,Ior
Va o, snielsncy says the Railway Age in coneuslon
yno - a economist but merely the cheap soap ho,
spe VI propaganda, who is reckless In ~, ~ 'A
er because he does not know what ne Is ,aIs, 80,
because ne does not expect to experience anv ., 49,
N oi any harm he may do. His exhibits are ,ns,o,,
part oi the propaganda Of labor leaders 10 des,
'ubo confidence in private management and t,,, %
movement for the Plumb plan" "'0