The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-28

It didn't take very long to convince
the government that efficient serv-
ice under such burdensome regula-
ton was ifnpracticabie. Senator Cum
minis, chairman of the interstate COM
merce committee. testified under oatn
last February nit was just as much
the duty of the government to return
these roads with rates that would sus-
tain them in their operations as it
was its duty to return them in as
good condition physically as it took
them. And that is a matter not suf-
ficiently understood by the people OF
the country. 1 think when it is fully
understood. that very much of the
criticism that has fallen upon the
railroads since that time will disap-
pear"
Secretary Hoover said at the same
time, and in the same place:
Few persons seem to realize the
amount of expansion in our transport
tation machine necessary to keep pace
with the growth of the country. An
equal few seem to have any notion of
the price we pay for not having it.
Since we entered the war
in 1917 we have constructed at least
10, 900 miles of railways less than our
increasing population and economic
development needed. We are behind
in rolling STOCK about 1000 locomo
tives and 100000 cars. Unless we can
have an Immediate resumption of
construction and equipment our cons
mercial community will be triple the
cost of the whole of them in their
losses OF a single season. The very
moment we reach anything like nor
NAL business we shall see repetition
of ear shortages; we shall see pre-
miums for IT, use of cars for The
moving grain; we shall see factories
closed for the lack of ears; we shall
see large ihtermitteney in Employ
ment and we shall see the usual prof
iteefing in commodities due to a
structure between the producer and
consumer"
Senator. Capper will be responsible
in part for the fuifi1lfnent of this
dreary prophecy. AS the leader of
the farm bloc, he has been Striving
for the repeal of Section 15-A the
full rate-maizing power to the states.
He believes the idea is popular among
the farmers. 1 suppose. and that the
repeal would aid them: What he
seems not to know liz that every move
of this kind. and every additieh he
makes or Helps to make to the pres
ent form of restrictive legislation af-
fecting the railroads is making pri-
vate operation of the properties just
that much more difficult and adds
Just that much to the influence dis
capital into the railroads. Instead of
doing something to help these rail-
roads in their efforts, to gain new
capital, Senator Capper. doubtless UNI
Intentionally, is doing everything pos
sible to bring about government own
ership.
The Topeka Daily Capital said d
few days ago, 'Tf business at its pres
ent sub-normal stage cannot be car
ried by the transportation facilities
that exist what will ne the complaint
when business becomes not only nor
NAL h1lt Tho 17t
congestion will be scarcely a marker
for what will come in the near future
when there will be loud outcties
against the railroads and angry pro-
tests that business cannot prosper
because of congested traffic.
Senator Capper appears to blame
the railroads for the loss of millions
of dollars in the fruit crop of 1922,
but neglects to say that, despite the
rail strike, much more perishable
freight was moved this summer by
the railroads than the markets have
been able to consume. The records
show that within the last two weeks
in eastern, and central eastern mar
kets, fruit and vegetables have been
thrown away by the hundreds of tons
because the supply was more than
the demand. Rates had nothing to
do with this.
The senator wastes a lot of time in
discussing the cost of living. There
is no more self-sufficfng element in
the world today than the farmer, and
no man more Independent of this
same cost of living because with the
exception of a few articles he can
produce about everything he needs
on his own land, and he is the only
part of our citizenship that can do
this. OF course, he is affected by the
high cost of many things as all of US
are affected, but the volume of bust
ness done by the mail order houses
in Chicago or st. Louis does not indi-
cate that the farmer is quite so pow
erty stricken as Senator Capper
would have us believe.
1t is the interest of the railroads
to, have the farmers prosperous ana
contented because the success of one
depends upon the other. This rela-
tionship works both ways and Until
this fact is understood in the country.
the railroads are not going to get
fair treatment
Senator Capper should know why
railroad development has almost
ceased in this country, and that if
it is to be resumed the railroads must
be permitted a more liberal net re-
turn than they have today. If the
senator is sincerely eager to advance
the interests of the whole country
he will add nothing to the propa-
ganda now being circulated against
the ne Will lelk the
ers that the railroads in 1921 paid
the state of Kansas S7,236,467 in
taxes as Compared with s6.349,932
in 1920.
An industry paying such taxes
nearly 100000 a day in the whole
country-is well worth the friendly
consideration of the people.
Railroad managers ere not oppos-
ing a reasonable control of railroads
by the federal government. nor are
they seeking to deny the Jurisdiction
Of state boards within the state
boundaries. What they are opposing
is the indiscriminate distributing
among forty-eight states of power
over rates which would be certain to
result in enirnosities. new Commissions
and unjust Determinations between
communities. They resent the con-
tihual harping by the politicians over
the supposed guaranty" to the rail-
roads. a guaranty which does not ex-
list If such persons are seeking TO
get the rail.os d. back int the gov
ernment's nards so that the people
once more will be obliged to make