South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-07-13
BY +. D. UNDERWOOD


It is difficult to write on the rail-
road situation without being one OF
two things. or both-elementary and
redundant.
We may start with the text that
ali transportation agencies must
recognize the supreme right Of the
public 20 adequate. constant trans
portation
The life-blood Of railroads is re-
munerative rate. The making OF
rates is vested I'm body created by
congress. n addition 20 its rate
making powers, it is, under the
law. given jurisdiction over safety
appliances Of every character, boil
er inspection. accidents 10 persons
and property. etc. Its duties, when
first constituted, were confined TO
supervision Of rates. Later on at
various times added duties were
given 20 it until a point has been
reached where il is physically i'm
possible for the principals 10 per-
form their allotted tasks.
Any commission will be fully oc-
cupied with the important duties
involved in rate making. superb
sion over the issuance OF all securi-
ties and obligations. and decisions
as 20 the building Of new and extern
sion OF old railway lines. These
undertakings are enough TO require
the best effort OF the best men OBJ
tainable. Cluttering it mp with the
minor details of railway practice
must always be an inefficient and
unsatisfactory procedure.
The desire Of lawmakers 20 fetter
railways was az one time quite APP
parent. When that feeling govern
ed congress. the existing useless fea T.
lures of governmental control were
added
The Personal Equation.
Who could have a greater interest
in the integrity OF locomotive boil
er than its engineer and the mech
anical officers charged with its up
keep Who could have n greater
interest i'm pursuing a course that
will free railways from accidents
than the employees the officers in
charge. and the directors who are
7 legally and morally responsible for
tho proper management OF their
properties They cannot delegate
their authority. they cannot evade
their responsibility. The insertion
into management OF any govern
mental body with the view Of pre-
venting boiler explosions. train ac-
c.dents. etc. .s sophistry-a dupl.-
/ cation OF effort Railway officials
have q personal pride In doing their
jobs with the minimum number Of
accidents. They can be depended
upon 90 find the cause and apply
/ The remedy as they now do In
vestigations. of railway casualties by
governmental bodies are farcical
Naturally they cannot get 10 the
Z scene On time TO reach intellige NJ
/ conclusions Il Is "the DAY after
/ the Fair" for them.
The. attention OF the taxpayers
might well be directed 20 the cos,
of the superfuhy Of efforts that
make no Improvement in condition
Summarizing. 4 commission
charged with the responsibility for
railroad rates. the issuance OF rail-
way securities and their obligations
81 every kind. having the power %
prevent unnecessary railway build
ing and extensions. has enough "a
do-leaving technical and mechani-
cal matters 70 the natural experts
That part OF the transportation
act whereuuder the labor board
was created was a bungle. No other
word so ftly describes H. L +
wrong in principle A synchroniza
uon OF wages i'm all the United
/ States IS impracticable
The AIkaH District.
As an Illustration; Some years ago
+ the country 10 the south and west
was known, 10 the wilroad vcrna-
cular. as the "alaali- district. Al
. nen in The transportation depart
ment OF railways in that district