Grand Forks herald., 1922-06-12

to the East. u ii. q. X, Il & All
Mr.. Elliott pointed out that, ongthe
basis OF the value OF the railroad
properties as fixed by governmental
agencies, the returns for 1921 were
less than la per cent, and that for
the three months ending March 80.
1922, during which traffic was stimu-
strike. the earnings were 16i millions,
or at a rate Of 4 l-2 per cent. Had
the usual expenditures for mainten-
ance been made in 1921; the returns
would have been very nearly cut In
two. @
The number of freight cars was
given at 2,261. 900. OF which $4,000
were in bad order on April L. 1922.
1t was Mr.. Elnott's claim that per
cent, or a total Of 111,000, would have
been considered higl. figure prior to
motives was listed at e4,563, OF which
1890 were claimed to be in bad or
der on April Is, 1922. This represent
ed over 20 per cent Of the total, and
10 per cent, or 6,456. would have
been considered high before the war.
Figuring the average cost. of re-
pairing the cars at $500 and the loco
motives, at $4,000. the total require
ment to put this rolling stock in first
class condition ran up to $s5. 100000
and SIS 100000. respectively, a total
Of $1s1, zoe, 900, or more than the
earnings for the first three months Of
1922 and the figures leave out of con-
sideratiOn part Of the rolling stock
and tho general upkeep of the rail
road properties.
HAdle ErO.scm Wisely.
Recognizing the general esteem in
which Mr.. Elliott is held. and the pro-
liability that his figures are absolutely
accurate and reliable, recognizing,
also, the force Of the statement of Mr..
Parmalee that the railroads were re:
turned to their owners with a oon-
siderably higher comparative level Of
sequently further increased by some
600 millions annually in added wage
schedules, some idea of the serious ma
ture of the railroad problem facing
the country may be gathered; and
the recent cuts in rates should, there
fore, convince the country that the
whole transportation problem is being
handled courageously, andA wisely, and
the tonic effect of this better under
standing will be the stabilizing of con-
ditions in all lines Of business.
of experience under the transportation
act. Representing, as it did and
does, complete change in our me-
thods of handling the transportation
problem, at least, departure from
fundamentals; having worked only un-
der abnormal conditions, and there
fore, never able to function in all
its parts; and there not having been
any unanimity, as yet, in its interpre-
tation: it is generally conceded to be
impossible to satisfactorily estimate
49, <An FV,I nfV Vn<y< ~
the act. One thing, however. is GER
tain, and that is that it is too cumber-
some in many respects; and Mr.. Par
malice very frankly acknowledged that
the contentious of the industrial az
sociations with respect to the Railroad
Labor Board must be accepted as
true; that If there is to be a satisfac-
tory working out OF the provisions of
the law relating to the Labor Board
there must be a closer co-ordinatien
Of the functions of the two bodies
which now deal, respectively, with
rates and wages. That, Of course. can
law itself.
Work OF Association. -
do not wish to burden you with
the past history Of the work of the
industrial associations, except to state
briefly that the general clearing away
that has been done with respect to
the finding of a sound solution OF
the transportation problem during
the past year and half is very large
ly the accomplishment of those asso-
ciations Two years ago the railroads
were ready to give up and let the
, Adamson law wreak its vengeance
upon the general public. 1t was then
| that the industrial organizations. at
the November. 1920, conference. took
hold and formulated their program.
It first embodied only negative pro-
posals, but in May, 1921. they were
| worked into affirmative and construc-
tive suggestions. which received i'm
| mediate recognition.
"One of the first steps was the for
nation Of an industrial committee
| with authority to deal with the situa-
ton on the basis Of that program.
The cooperation of the railroad
managers was then solicited. and, that
accomplished. the agricultural inter-
| ests were asked to join their forces.
The final result was a committee Of
q. seven representing the railroads.
seven the industrial organizations and
seven the farm organizations.
TT will be Of interest to you to
i know that of the so definite and dis
| tinct propositions recently passed up
| on by that conference, an agreement
was reached on Al. The chief difficult
i ty encountered was with respect to
| the continuation of the Railroad La
Dor Board, the division finding agricul-
ture and industry on one side and the
railroad arrangements on the other.