The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-12-27
SENATOR 8ELKNS
URGES LATITUDE
/ WITH RAILROADS
Need Of Greater Trausports.
ton Emphasized by West
virglnlan in Congress
BY CHARLES BROOKS SMITH

I y
WASHINGTON, D. O.. 27
in a statement. for the psess given
out today by Senator Davis Ells.
ings Of West Virginia, the urgency
Of settling the transoorts Iahl
problem is dwelt upont, Hsl IA
cusses the broad principles Of theI
subject, retratntng from going ind
to details, further than 10 Intimate
that the high cost OF food antS
fuel, and the restriction OF the lat
ter industry, which he says ~,
overdone, can be reached by "a
proper solution OF the transportai
tion problem.
His statement follows:
1.-THE question OF supplying n
country with adequate railway
transportation facilities Is super.
coded by no other in Importance
and urgency. Railway expansion
slowed up and practically stopped
some years beiore the late war.
The nations growth did not. The
United States went on growing.
On top Of that came virtual gov.
eminent ownership In the guise,
Of complete and nndisputed gov,
eminent control, IN incompetent
and as inefficient an eSpositiotI
Of that doctrine as ever WI
given, which all but scrapped the
insufficient railway Transports,
tion OF our country. II rang thel
deathknell OF government owner!l
ship OF railroads. vFidIi'l
1.-THE country grows otir rail-
roads do not. That Is our prob
lem. Adequate railroad transporS
tation we must have. II u some.
thing we cannot do without, It
the very life's blood Of our natiot
al existence, our health, prosper
ity and common comfort.
Moreover, Il enters into every
phase Of Individual human exist
ence, and community lie, Rates
affect the cost Of living vitality
Not a dollar paid out In wages esd
capes; not merely the dollar Of
the railroad employee, but TIE dol:
lar earned by all men everywhere
''In the cost Of food, fuel. build:
ing materials, the absolute neces.
sary products OF everyday life
transportation plays o yitally, fun,
damentally important re-
Through II the coal situat5n
might be reached even 10 the OK
tent Of curtailing an industry that
Is nearly fifty per cent oyerdpnei
spreading a seasonal market more
nearly throughout the year, and
directing flow Of surplus labor
IN the mining industry to prodlle.
tive channels that stand In great
er need.
"a new basis for distribution,
more satisfactorily adjusted TO our
newly.developed economic te1lise,
ments-with these ideas 4 liays
mentioned kept In view-misht 80
far toward accomplt shing these
desired results. r..
what more urgently usetni or
more valuable .gift- the passing q
Christmas suggesting the thonsht
could we as q people give to our
selves than to give To- the railrpld
question fair treatment and the
best consideration Sot our ability
free from narrow jpreiudieesi class
seltishness. and the Influence o.
political demagosues whom we
have too long tolerated 10 sway
our judgments, and direct oslr &C.
lions for their own personal petty
advantages. q,
III the national mind and con;
science could be bought v take
this view Of problem that must
soon be satisfactorily solved. u
our nations growth aud prosper.
ity are to continue naturally anu
,inshackled, how much speeaier
might be solution be achieved ID