Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-11-26
CAR SHORTAGE
is REPORTED
BY RAILROADS
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN

Washington, Nov. 25.-There Is
abundance of authority for the
statement that the railroad prob
lem is probably the most serious
one before the American people to-
day.
Aside from the controversy over
the Railroad Labor board, the i'm
mediate manifestation OF difficulty
Is the car shortage which exists,
particularly In the western part of
the country. The American Rail-
way association estimates q short
age of between 10000 and 100000
cars of all sorts, and the railroad
executives say that there is no rem
edy for this shortage which can be
applied now. The country must get
through the emergency the best
way it can, taking such losses as
are unavoidable and possessing
itself in patience until permanent
solution can be found.
The American transportation
system runs quite smoothly in fair
weather when traffic is not too
| heavy and when there are no alb
normal difficulties in the way. Just
as soon as something untoward
happens, however, it gets all
cramped and tied up like man
with a bad case OF rheumatism.
Unfortunately the comparison ends
there for in the case Of the victim
of rheumatism he is the only one
who suffers, but when the railroads
gets in condition such that they
cannot function normally every
body suffers.
Instead of taking a temporary
measure with a rusty elbow, the
rheumatic patient, II he is wise,
takes treatment for the rheuma-
tism in his whole system. He at
tempts to eliminate the basic trou-
BILE. 1t is becoming plain that In
| stead of attempting temporary ex-
pedients with recurring railroad
troubles, Congress must proceed to
a thorough treatment which will
better the whole transportation
machine.
In all probability an extra session
of congress will be called after the
fourth OF March, 1923. which will
| be devoted largely to the railroad
problem. This will mean that a
series OF hearings will be conducted
to obtain the best available advice
on what legislation should be en-
acted. Following this, general
Transportation bill will be framed
and threshed out in congress.
Senator LaFoilette, author of tn
railroad valuation act, is expected
to take a leading part In this pro-
gram, and railway presidents shud
der when they think about what
he may do. The Wisconsin states
man has made 1t clear that in his
| judgment the troubles Of the rail-
roads are due primarily to over
capitalization and financial mis-
management, and the men whom
he regards as responsible will get
anything but sympathetic treat
ment at his hands. He is regarded
as in a degree the spokesman for
labor and 1t Is possible he may lead
the fight for the abolition of the
Railroad Labor board which Sam
uel Conn 8 has said the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor Is deter
mined to make. Senator Cummins
as chairman Of the committee on
interstate commerce, Is another
who will be exceedingly active in
shaping any railroad legislation
that may be enacted. The Iowa
senator Is regarded as more SYM
pathetic toward railroad manage
ment than his colleague from the
Badger state.
The United States and its rail-
road system may be likened to d
growing boy and his clothes. Th,
clothes must be constantly enlarged
to keep up with the boys growth OF
they weaf thin in important places
and bind the freedom of his limbs
Before the war about $500 miles
of railroad were built. each year
This was the enlargement neces'
sary to keep up with the growing
population and commercial activity
of the nation. When the war came
railroad building stopped and since
that time there has been practical
ly no net gain In mileage or facili
ties. In fact, in some sections many
miles OF railroad were torn up
There was a period when the wal
was at its height and cost of opera
ton bore disproportionate rela