New-York tribune., 1922-02-11
.n.rbury Offers Solution TO
r railroad Problem at Dry
Coods Convention: Ameri-
..n Valuation Condemned

...d.te reduction of freight rates
..,,d not have any perceptlble rapid
"...,cr ia an increased volume of
s.;,.., for industry in general, &C.
4 ..a;,v to opinions expressed yester-
~ hy General W. ". Atterbury, vice
.s;dert Of the Pennsylvania Rail
'.a and Congressman Sydney Ander-
chairman of the Joint committee
s1erieultural = Inquiry. before the Ma
.;onsl Retail Dry Goods Nssoc'ation
s,nyention at the Hotel IennssIvahia'
~. retailers brought their conven-
ssn TO q close yesterday WIN o'sSos-
,:.,. or traffic problems and store
.dueation. Mr.. Anderson toucneu o., on
80 t-an,portation problem IN generai
scdress devoted largely to exp aln'hs
49, nosi.ion OF the farmer and "hat he
!. irving to accomplish. when mas
ven injected into eveVy mseNhr our
| Ne the convention. The recognl'ioh OF
.ae farmers problem by ether t,aues
,nd the interdependcnce OF asr'cu1tuice
md industry resulted in the passage VI
resolution by the association aP-
cointing q committee OF I'VE TO come
With committees from agricultural as
sociations on common problems.
General Atterbury plunged into MS
subject by stating the railroad proo-
,rra. which, in his opinion eo"Slsls
chiefly Of TOO much government con-
tro. -, .,
30 e,sI fsetor in our business life" he
uid, "havc been measurably aoJusted'
w.. s.jll remain at tco high a level.
U.nifestly there can DC no return to
mai business conditions until the
n,;ec Of TRANSFORMATION bears proper
r.,..;on TO commodity values
Oppose Reduction
"A general reduction in freight
,stes will not OF itself restore bust
ness TO normaicy, nor can general
-eduetion be demanded OF the carriers
N tbe present condition of their reve-
nue.. At the same time. It is beyond
question that there arc situations
where reductions might be made.
"The railroads are vitality interested
n an early return to d proper ratio
bstwcen commodity values and costs
o. transportation. In fact. if the
ureser. condition OF high rates long
continues. many industries will be
seated nearer consumption. the rail-
roads losing traffic and the industries
their investment.
As solution TO tho railroad problem
ie offered the folowins:
a. Enable the railroads to get on
ser feet financially, TO restore their
credit and bring their properties up to
state of development sufficient to
meet the growing needs OF the country.
40. Permit the railroad officers TO run
ieir railroad business without being
maracled by mass OF restrictive and
unnecessary regulation.
"s. Back up TIE railroad officers in
asir efforts to cut down the cost Of
transportation, and make the service
-csponsive to the business needs Of
he country"
Distribution Problem
Mr Anderson described the work OF
lis committee in Congress as an effort
% establish the fact that there is
zeal problem OF distribution which is
affecting farmers as we'll as others, and
70 adduce facts from which some solu-
ion may be developed. He secuted
he suggestion that the committee was
collecting data to be used by the At
'ofney General in pro6te eering prose-
cntons
He also condemned the many schemes
aat haze haen put forward to artifi-
;al, saise the price of farm products
% increase the farmers purchasing
over He said that doubtless some
rathinery could be set 10 and accom-
rasa this purpose tcnpora rily, but that
''s nsks involved are too great. The
ganization of farmers so that def