Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-11-23

Washington, d. c., Nov. 20.-There
IS abundance of authority for the state
ment that the railroad problem is prob
ably the most serious one before the
American people today.
Aside from the controversy over
the railroad labor board, the immediate
manifestation of difficulty is the car
shortage winch exists, particularly in
the western part of the country. The
american Railway association esti-
mates a shortage Of between 10000
ana -oO,O0O cars of all sorts, and the
rallroad executives say that there is
no remedy for this shortage which can
be applied now. The country must
get through the emergency the best
way It can, taking such losses as are
unavoidable and possessing itself in
patience until a permanent solution
can be found.
Inc American transportation system
runs quite smoothly in fair weather
"hen traffic is not too heavy and
When there are no abnormal difficult
Ties IN the way. Just as, soon as
something untoward happens, however,
II gets all eramped and tied up like a
man with a bad case of rheumatism.
lht tDu1D dElSUH PuuS
mere Tor IN the case of the victim of
rheumatism he is the only one who
suffers. but when the railroads get in
condition such that they cannot func-
tlon normally everybody suffers.
instead OF taking q temporary meas
ure with a rusty elbow, the rheumatic
patient, II he is wise. takes treatment
TOR the rheumatism in his whole sys-
tem. lie attempts to eliminate the
basic trouble. 1t is becoming plain
that instead Of attempting temporary
expedIents with recurring railroad
troubles, congress must proceed to a
thorough treatment which will better
the whole transportation machine.
In all probability an extra session
of congress will be called after the
fourth Of March. 1923, which will be
devoted iargly 10 the railroad prob
lem. This will mean that a series Of
hearings will be conducted to obtain
the best available advice on what leg
~islation should be enacted. Following
this, a general transportation bill will
be framed and threshed out in con
grass.
Senator LaFollette. author of the
railroad valuation act. is expected to
take a leading part in this program,
and railway presidents shudder when
they think about what he may do. The
Wisconsin statesman has made it clear
that i'll his Judgment the troubles of
the railroads are due primarily to over
capitalization and financial misman-
agement, and the men whom he re-
CARDS as responsible will get ANYTHING
but sympathetic treatment at his
hands. lie is regarded as in a degree
the spokesman for labor and it is pos
sibIe he may lead the fight for the
abolition of the railroad labor board
which Samuel Gompers has said the
American Federation Of Labor is de-
termined to make. Senator CuInmins,
as chairman OF the committee on in
terstate commerce, is another who will
be exceedingly active in shaping any
railroad legislation that may be en-
acted. The Iowa senator is regarded
as more sympathetic toward railroad
management than his colleague from
the Badger state.
Railroad Extensions inadequate
The United States and its railroad
system may be likeHed to a growing
boy and his clothes. The clothes must
be constantly enlarged to keep up with
the boys growth or they wear thin in
important places and bind the freedom
Of his limbs. Before the var about
1900 miles of railroad were built each
year. This was the enlargement nee
essaIy to keep up with the growing
population and commercial activity of
the nation. When the war came. rail
road building stopped and since that
time there has been practically no net
gain in mileage OF facilities. In fact,
in some sections many miles Of rail
road were torn mp. There was a
period when the war was at its height
and cost Of operation bore q dispro-
portionate relationship to rates of
transportation, when some small com
panies abandoned operation aud tore
up their rails. selling them for junk.
The steel value Wns higher than the
track value.
The same Is true Of railroad equip
mpnt, The cars and locomotives nee
essary TO handle the traffic offered
were insufficient. These things cost
money and the railroads did not have
the funds to make the necessary ex-
penditures. Not only were the addi-
tons TO equipment few; existing cars
and locomotives were permitted 10
deteriorate.
Good progress was being made in
catching up when the shipments strike
last summer. assaiIing the rail
roads in a vulnerable place. Once
more they were set back.
Terminal facilities constitute smother
important angle Of the problem. In
dnstry in the United States has a ten
dency to center about great cities.
Everybody tries TO crowd in together.
This means that tens of thousands of
cars Of freight are all being shipped