The New York herald., 1922-01-20
PAY CUTALL AROUND
FAVOREDBY ELLIOTT
Northern Pacific Chairman
Tells Civil Engineers of
Nations Needs.
FINDS WORKMEN AMISS
Says Country Fails to Note
Great Accomplishments
of Road Builders.
RAIL BONDS UNPOPULAR
Col. f. A. Molitor Cites Figures
to Show How Investors Re-
act to Securities.

the first step in the adjustment Of the
country's transportation problem was
urged by two speakers yesterday
afternoon at the sixty-ninth annual
meeting Of the American Society OF
Civil Engineers, In the Engineering
Societies Building. 33 West Thirty
ninth street.
The speakers were Howard Elliott
chairman, Northern Pacific Railway
Company, and Col. F. A. Molitor
chairman board Of economics and en-
gineering, National Association OF
Owners Of Railroad Securities.
Transportation" is the topic Of the
annual meeting, and water transporta-
ton was dealt with at the morning ses-
sion. To-day Highway Transporta-
ton" is to be the special subject. 1t
was to the subject Of Railroad Trans
portation' that Mr.. Elliott and Col. Mol
itor addressed themselves. The other
| speaker Of the afternoon was William
NJ Doak. vice-presidept Brotherhood of
| Railroad Trainmen.
'.Mfnor Mistakes Magnihed.'
Mr.. Elliott took up first the Relation
| OF engineering TO railroading and then
called attention to the enormous growth
of the railroad transportation system OF
this country within the last fifty years.
quoting figures to show that while pop
ulation had increased ia per cent, rail-
road mileage had increased 375 per cent
He continued:
Unfortunately for the future growth
of the country there is too .grea. ten
dency on the part Of the pui0ic and
the lawmakers to see only the minor
| mistakes incident to the creation and
operation of this great transportation
engine, performing such prodigious work
for all (hampered by many laws) and
| failing to appreciate the whole wonder
ful work or what the nation would be
without it. They hold the penny Of
failure so close to their eyes they do
not see the twenty dollar gold piece Of
accomplishment"
Pointing out that farmers, manufac-
turers and business men profited by the
larger business incident to the war. Mr.
Elliott called attention to the fact that
| the case of the railroads was different :
that they received only a scanty liveli-
hood and got their properties back In a
deteriorated condition, the conditions
arising from Government control now re-
qulIlH tHe POWcT OA sAioisiec-
ment to adjust. Dehation was taking
place in nearly all fields. He con-
| tinued:
what is generally described as labor
has already been hurt by unemployment
and by some reduction in wages. which.
however. has not yet affected the great
transportation interests to the extent
that it should, II what some of the peo-
pie of the country think is needed
namely, lower transportation charges
is to be, obtained.
"It would seem as II labor, through its
great leaders, ought to recognize that
this defiation process Is going on and
admit that il must come and allow
lower unit OF wage in many directions.
not only on the railroads, but in the
mines and in the building trades. all Of
which would mean the employment of
more men, a lower unit price on many
articles that are used by all. and thus
tend to reduce the cost OF living and
help to break the present endless chain
of expense"
Mr.. Elliott quoted figures to show how
railroad labor costs had grown in recent
years, and continued:
"A reasonable policy of labor defila-
tion would be extremely helpful because
the wage bill of the railroads is so very
large part OF total expenses and they
are such heavy buyers Of materials. the
cost of which Is made up so largely of
labor. When they are on the upgrade,
as all know, they are very large buyers.
perhaps The largest buyers. of many
articles. which means employment 20
men and greater demand for food and
other articles, thus helping all along the
line"