New-York tribune., 1922-11-10
F federal Rule
Is Blamed for
Rail Shortage
Markham Declares There Is
Urgent Need for More Fa-
cilities at Start of Business
Revival Over Country
DepIores Lack of Capital
Asserts Roads Are Unable to
Buy Equipment Because
Investors Are Timid

There Is. an acute and damaging
shortage Of rail transportation facili-
ties, which will get greater ms tho bust
ness revival gathers way, and which IL
due almost entirely to lack of expsn-
sion caused by government regulation
as 1t has been pgaeticed tor the last
fifteen years, Charles II. Markham.
president of the Illinois Central Rail-
road, told an audience Of railway exec
utives st the Hotel Commodore last
night The occasion was the annual
convention dinner Of the Railway Bust
ness Association.
AT the same function James A. En-
cry, counsel for the National Associa-
tion Of Manufacturers, made plea for
investigation, by commission appoint
ed by the President of the United
States, Of labor disputes Of national
consequence.
Earlier in the day Alba h. Johnson,
president of the association, In his Off
cial address had declared that Tues
days elections would have decided
effect upon the railroad situation since
ators and Representatives. who could
be counted upon as friends Of conserva-
tive and sane legislation"
Shipping Men Complain
Mr.. Markham said last night that
the significant fact about the present
shortage Of transportation facilities
was that it had occurred at the very
beginning of period of industrial
and agricultural prosperity and ex
pansion. Farmers, lumbermen, mine
were complaining everywhere of in
ability 10 get sufficient cars to meet
their business needs, There had been
other car shortages in times of great
prosperity, but never before had there
been shortage right at tho begin
ming Of such a period of business eX-
pansion.
an this respect" he said, "the stu
alton is without precedent-a situation
which should CAUSE every farmer and
business man, every railway regulat-
ing official, every public man and
every wage worker to pause and re-
fleet seriously"
Mr.. Markham q u o tie d Secretary
Hoover as saying that every period
Of transportation shortage cost the
country at least billion dollars, and
quoted figures to show there had
been q steady decline since 1907 in
the ratio OF Increase of the number
of locomotives and the amount Of roll
Z
the United States. The increase in tho
total tractiye power of locomotives was
almost 60 pei cent less during the
five years ending 1921 than during the
five years ending 1907, and the in
cresae in total freight capacity near
| ly 80 per cent less. he enid. 80
! Blamss Lack of Capital
! Lack of new&eapital available eor
railroad transportation expansion was
responsible Tor, this condition, Mir.
: Markham Continued. and the timidity
OF investors In their attitude toward
railroad securities he blamed upon
] gogerament reputation as it has been
practised for fftaen years.
Unfair and hnwise regulation in the
past" he said, has seriously harmed
the owners OF railroad securities who
have seen honest and legitimate in
vcstments greatly depreciated in value
over period Of years, or actually
wiped out. But it has also done much
harm to investors and workers In other
industries; and a renewal and con-
tinuance Of the past policy of regula-
tion, by preventing revival of the
expansion Of the railways, will restrict
the increase of all business and bring
a, creeping paralysis upon all produc-
tion and commerce that will cause
losses many times greater to other IN
dustries, to our farmers ard TO our
working class, than to the owners Of
the railroads, Therefore. the duty
the selfish duty, II you please--of helm
ing create an Intelligent public senti-
ment regarding regulation Of railroads
rests upon our agricultural leaders, our
! business lenders, our public men and
our newspapers as much as upon rail
way managers; and ell will euffer in
the disaster that will result IL such o
| public sentiment is not created"
| United State Senator George Whar-
Ton Pepper, Of Pennsylvania, also
spoke.
.Iohnson Reelected
/ During its business sessions earlier
in the day the association reelected
Alba Johnson as its chief executive
and chose these officers to serve with
him for the next year: vice-presi-
dents, William r.. Woodin, New York
City; Stephen c. Mason, Pittsburgh;
| Charles j. Syniington, New York City;
F. A. Poor, Chicago; s. l.. Smith,
| Cleveland; j. G.. Platt, Boston; w. e.
Sharp, Chicago; and treasurer, P. Har-
yey Middleton.
A resolution was passed regretting
the death of the late De Witt Cuyler,
and another calling upon Congress 20
keep it's hands off existing railroad
legislation, and asking an amendment
to the immigration law to permit the
unrestricted entry Of European un-
skilled laborers.