Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-06-20

J crystalized it in his aphoristic statement
that the remedy is railroad holiday.
It is argued that under a relaxed regula-
ton the public would get measurably bet
ter service because each railroad would
be on it's mettle, not only to cut rates
lower than it's competitors, but to give such
service that it's facilities would be preferred
1t is claimed that when railroad operation
Is carried ON in a network of regulations
and rules which dictate to a nicely prac-
tica1ly every function of management, great,
progressive executives and alert, capable
railroad workers are not attracted to the
profession.
President Underwood, of the Erie rail-
road tells of an experience of his in the
bitterly cold winter of 1917-18 which in
terfered so seriously with the movement
of trains. Engines were frozen in the yards,
cars were frozen to the tracks and snow
drifts blocked the tracks to a point where,
ON some of the worst days, traffic practical
ly was suspended. Mr.. Underwood, who has
been in railroad service for many years,
met at one of the terminals, an old yard
man who had been working all his life on
railroads. Mr.. Underwood had known him
for thirty or forty years.
Greeting the aged worker, the railroad
president asked him to explain why rail-
roads had so much difficulty in these times.
He pointed out that quarter of century
ago winters were just as cold, but that
traffic never was suspended and the trains
kept moving in all weather. The old yard
man answered: ''The reason is that now
we have steel cars and wooden men, but
in the old days we had wooden cars and
men of STEEL
This is favorite theme of Fairfax Har-
rison, president of the Southern railway,
who, at the termination of federal control
introduced economies in operation and in
creased efficiency to an extent which over
came the operating deficit. 1t is his opinion
that esprit de corps is as necessary to oper-
ate railroad as to win a battle and that
such spirit is difficult to stimulate under
CreadmlH conditions of routine regulation
But it is to be expected that any discus
sion OF this backward swing of the pendu-
lum Will bring many earnest protests from
critics OF railroad management and opera
ton, who desire not less, but creator and
IlrmeF measure of regulation and outright
ownership if need be. These critics claim
thaT there is enormous waste and in some
cases, fraudulent mismana cement of the
carriers by their private owners Thew as
sert that the only solution to the railroad
problem IS to turn the whole system over
10 government ownership and operation.
One OF the principal attacks on the cost
OF railroad operation, under present private
control, is that the railroad stockholders
also are large stockholders in COMPANIES
Whlch furnish supplies to the railroads TT
is alleged that the directors or stockholders
Oh a railroad will commit that company tn
pay excessively high prices for supplies mr.
chased from their supply companies with the
| result That the railroad property is kept i'm
poVerished while the supply company which
Is not subject to the Interstate commerce
commission or any other regulation, makes
huge profits. This is but one of sucb
charges against private MANAGEMENT made
ny those who favor more regulation or COM
plete government ownership
Little Tommy, the terror had been a. good
boy Tor most of the day, and was permitted
TO sit at the table along with his parents dis
ungu1shed visitors, Mr.. and Mrs. Brown
lie mad received strict instructions +o asl1
no questions and Tommy tried hard to obev
But nature won, and he suddenly manfred
Mamma, do Mr.. and Mrs Brown still NAV
IN the band?" ''Will they play us something
when tea is oVer?'
"Why, Tommy Mr.. and Mrs. Brown don't
play IN any band. Why do you ask such
question:"
Because" said the terror in disappointed
tones. 81 heard you tell papa that Mr. Brown
played second fiddle to his wife,
There was music after tea, and Tommy was
the drum.