New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-04-22
CABINET DEEP IN
RAILWAY PROBLEM
PRESIDENT HAS GIVEN MATTER
EXHAUSTIVE STUDY AND
WILL OFFER SOLUTION.
LONG DEBATE MAY FOLLOW
All Agree That Freight Rates Are Too
High, and Railroad Executives De-
clare That Wages Also Must Be Re.
duced.
BY EDWARD B.. CLARK.

BY EDWARD B. CLARK.
Nashington.-At this time the Presi,
dents cabinet is giving serious consid-
GRAFTON TO railroad matters. Transpor-
tation seems TO loom large as one OF
The vital problems of the day.
Recently the President has been con
ferrlng with members of the railway
labor board. Everybody knows that
the question of wages is the one which
Is being pressed for answer, The rail
ROAD arrangements declare that there
can be no hope of railroad prosperity
unless wages in some places shall be
decreased. The labor men charge that
the railroads are not being econom-
lcally managed that money can be
saved In many ways, and that there Is
no necessity today of lowering the
wage rate.
u seems TO be the feeling in Wash
lngton that when congress undertakes
legislation on railroad matters the dis
cussion will be long continued, taking
probably as much time in the house as
tarl1 discussion. Unquestionably there
are men who take part in the present
controversy who desire government
ownership. There are also men who,
while not wanting government owner.
snip, want government supervision TO
such an extent that IL will amount vir-
tually 10 government control. Then
there are men friendly to private own
ershlp who say that If costs can be nd
1usted, and the railroad arrangements
can be given Il free hand, prosperity
will return.
President Harding has made II evil
dent that for a time at least he does
not intend to confer with the railway
executives, but will limit his discus
sions temporarily to the chiefs of the
various bureaus of the government.
Later on 1t is known that the Presi-
dent will ask the opinions of the big
railway men Of the country.
Freight Rates Must Come Down.
1t is virtually admitted here by the
government officials who have given
the matter consideration that the ex-
listing freight rates cannot continue. /
1t Is charged that II is more costly to
ship farm produce from farming sec
ions TO the cities of the East than ii
is to ship TO foreign ports.
OF course there Is something entirely
wrong with the whole matter and the
amha nf Tho nnhInat and tho Drnyi-
dent with them, realize 1t. All the cab
met officers intimate that what they
desire Is To get the whole truth If they
can. After the truth has been found
they believe that they can frame some
kind Of a policy for rate adjustment
that will not cause injury to general
business, nor TO the people as a whole.
Congress always has been afraid of
the railroad question. Politics enters
IL TO an unusual degree. II Is said
that there were many members of the
lower house Of congress who voted for
a law a few years & In which none
of them believed, and voted for II be-
cause they feared that a certain part
their constituencies, holding the bal
ance of power, would defeat them for
reelection If they had voted In reverse.
II is rather n hard thing to intimate
that some congressman are moved by
fears rather than by their con-
but the charge Is made so
frequently that there seems to be
something back of 1t. and when one
Analyses some Of the votes In house
and senate with a view 10 the sections
If the country represented by the vot-
'rs. the charge seems to have some
ruth back of IT. !
Wage Scale the Hardest Problem. >
The biggest question today, of course, {
5 that Of the change in the wage scale.
f wages are reduced a strike is feared, 4
md If they are not reduced the con :
inuance of high freight and passenger !
ates is feared, and if some of the rail- y
cad managers tell the truth, bank !
uptcy of the railroads is feared. The p
abinet is concerned over all these n
uesti0ns. a
The President eventually will make n
Is recommendations to congress on
lis great railroad subject. lie has been
tudying the thing personally ever
nee he was elected. He has had advice
rom all quarters. lie has read, il Is :,
aid, all that the railroad managers =
ave to say. all that the shippers have :
, say, and all that the wage earners q
ave to say. lie has a barrelful of infor- ="
lation and his problem now is to aver a.
ge the contents Of the barrel. make y
Ilogance for overstatements aud un- w
erstatements, for prejudices and per- o'
APPS for some actual untruths. Then
z will act in the way Of recommended II
on, and of curse the hope of the u
and the labor world is that 81
? will act in a way TO bring peace, Il
nd with it prosperity. in the transpor- VI
tion world. te
Quick Work for Soldier Relief, :,
President Harding's committee into ec
hose hands has been given the duty fa
speeding up the work Of relief for
e wounded, and sick s~oldiers of the IT.
1ited States. has held its first meet IN,
rs. at
II is possible for your correspond. co
{ TO give in detail the intentions of ba
LeTlr LAS IINIolIe IIeropvr