Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-11-03
Roads Handicapped More Than Other
Business.

Roads Handicapped More Than Other
Business.
"2. The railroads are responsible
to the public for providing adequate
transportation. Their charges are lin
tied by public authority, and they are
in very large respects (notably for
labor) compelled to spend money on
basis fixed by public authority The
margin within which they are per-
mitted to earn a return upon their
investment 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 depressions, 1t
will be perceived that the limitations
surrounding their action do not per-
nit them to give effect to broad and
elastic policies which might very
properly govern other lines of bust
ness not thus restricted. 1t has been
urged upon the railroads that re.
duction in rates will stimulate traffic
and that increased traffic will protect
the carriers from the loss incident
to a reduction in rates. The railroad
arrangements cannot disguise from
themselves that this suggestion Is
merely conjectural and that an ad.
verse result of the experiment would
be disastrous not only to the rail
roads but to the public, whose SUI
preme need is adequate Transports
tion.
Consequently, the railroad manage
ments cannot feel justified in placing
these instrumentalities, so essential
to the public welfare. at the hazard
Of such an experiment based solely
upon such conjecture.
Farmers Especially Need Lower Rates
1T 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 la
| Dor and other costs of transportation thus
| imposed upon industry and agriculture
| generally a burden greater than they
should bear. This is especially true OF
| agriculture The railroad arrangements
are feeling sensitive TO and sympathetic
| with the distressing situation and desire
to do everything 10 assist In relieving
il that Is compatible with their duty to
! furnish the transportation which the pub
| lie must have.
al the moment railroads In many
| cases are paying 40 cents an hour for UNI
| skilled labor. when similar labor Us work.
| ing alongside the railroads and can be
| easily obtained by them at 20 cents an
hour The railroads OF the country paid
| In 1920 total OF considerably over 81.
| 300, OO0. 600 to unskilled labor alone. How
| ever desirable IL may be 10 pay this or
| that schedule of wages IL Is obvious that
| II cannot be paid out OF railroad earnings
| unless the industries which use the rail-
roads are capable OF meeting such
| charges.
"The railroads, and through them the
| peopIe generally, are also hampered In
| their efforts TO economize by a schedule
| OF workinp rules and conditions now IN
| force as heritage from the period OF
| federal control and upheld by the railroad
! labor board. These conditions are expen-
| siye uneconomic and unnecessary from
| the point OF view OF railroad operation
| and extremely burdensome upon the pub
| lie which pays the bill. This schedule OF
wages and OF working conditions prevents
| the railroads from dealing equitably with
| their labor costs In accordance with
| rapidly changing conditions and the great
| variety OF local wages IN different parts
| OF the country. The railroads are seeking
| 10 have these rules and working con-
ditions abrogated.
THE railroads will seek reduction In
wages now proposed by first requesting
the sanction OF the railroad labor board
The railroads will proceed with all pos
sible dispatch and as soon az the rail-
road labor board shall have given rs
assent 10 the reduction OF wages the gem
eral reduction Of rates will be put into
effect"