Evening journal., 1922-04-05
.REA RESENTS
|. c. c. Finding
p. R. r. President Says
Company Did Duty in
Most Trying Period
SAYS ROADS OWE
DUTY TO PUBLIC

Sharp retort has been made by
Samuel Rea president OF the Penn
sylvania Railroad. 10 tho recent
criticism by the Interstate Com
merce Commission. Of the action Of
the railroad In having repair work
done at private instead OF company
shops.
II was by a vote OF six 20 FIVE that
the commission passed its report,
and Mr.. Rea says he believes tho
decision Is an unjust and unfair re-
hectlon on the management OF the
company"
During the hearings. extending
over fourteen months. the charge
was brought that the railroad, by
sending work 10 outside shops,
sought to break up organization Of
men within Its own shops and that
tho outside work was done at ex-
cessive prices.
Copy OF President Rea's reply has
been received by L. d. Boyce. special
agent Of the company, In Wilming-
ton.
I'VE might just as we'll criticize
/ tho many acts OF failure 20 act In all
lines OF government and business
since the war, including those or
the Commission itself" says MT.
Rea. His statement In part follows
II feel that such rebuke from the
chief regulatory body OF the coun-
try cannot be taken lightly by the
Pennsylvania Railroad management
whether well founded or not. Our
railroad carried nearly one-eighth OF
the entire railroad trafiic OF the
country. and its management has a
duty to the public and TO It's share
holders which cannot permit the con-
ciusion OF the Interstate Commerce
Commission TO be ignored. 1 would
have regarded Il as humiliating. ex-
cept for the strong dissent OF 'fve
members OF tho Interstate Com
merce Commission. which fully sus'
tains the action Of the company In
the exercise OF its duty at a mos
trying period.
Il regard the decision OF the COM
mission as an unjust and unfair re-
Election on the management OF th'
company which exercised what Is be-
lieved 10 be an honest and soune
Judgment. at a time when the rail
roads we're crowded with traffic
threatened with what ultimately re
suited in the outlaw strike. an'
having large numbers OF Locomotives
and cars that had not been properll
and promptly repaired by the Fedora
Railroad Administration. The dut'
devolved on all railroads. facing ex
cepuonal traffic demands, to seour
the repairs. as quickly az possible.
THE fact that Il cost more AM
b took longer than was expected i
now a matter OF hindsight. but / ma
D sav. after some considerable review
b that the same action would be take
o 10 we we're confronted by the sam
emergencies. the same unsatisfactor
labor conditions and an uncharte
future that sorely tried the be'
, railroad financial and industrial cor
porations and governmental institu
q tlons OF tho world.
The dissenting opinions shove
? that fortunately there are some com
:. nissloners who recognize the justin
10 cation for the management's decisio
{ and who realize that there are muc
: bigger questions facing the commits
u sion than this investigation. The
7 also give ground for tho expectatio
= that the commission. having fu
: regulatory powers, but not the re
a sponsibility OF an owner or even
euarantor. is not revertng 10 Il
former policy OF railroad criticisr
instead OF constructive regulation.