The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1922-07-13
Community Service

We may start with the text that all
transportation agencies must recognize
the supreme right of the public to ade-
quate, constant transportation.
The life-blood of railroads is remun-
erative rate. The making of rates is
vested in body created by congress. In
addition to its rate making powers, it is,
under the law, given jurisdiction over
safety appliances of every character,
boiler inspection, accidents to persons
and property, etc. Its duties, when first
constituted, were confined to supervi-
sion of rates. Later on at various times
added duties were given to it until
point has been reached where it is phys
ically impossible for the principals to
perform their allotted tasks.
Any commission will be fully occupied
with the important duties involved in
rate making, supervision over the issu-
ance of all securities and obligations,
and decisions as to the building of new
and extension of old railway lines.
These undertakings are enough to re-
quire the best effort of the best men OBJ
tainable. Cluttering it up with the mi
nor details of railway practice must al
ways be an inefficient and unsatisfactory
procedure.
| The desire of the lawmakers to fetter
railways was at one time quite apparent.
When that feeling governed Congress,
the existing useless features of Govern
ment Control were added.
The Personal Equation.
Who could have a greater interest in
the integrity of the locomotive boiler
than it's engineer and the mechanical of
ficers charged with its upkeep? Who
could have a greater interest in pur-
suing course that will free railways
from accidents than the employees, the
officers in charge, and the directors, who
are legally and morally responsible fol
the proper management of their proper
ties? They cannot delegate their au.
thority; they cannot evade their respon.
sibility. The insertion into management
Of any governmental body, with the view
of preventing boiler explosions, train
J accidents, ETC., is sophistry-a duplica'
ton of effort. Railway officials have 8
personal pride in doing their jobs with
the minimum number of accidents. They
tdlI DS dcpCllNCh ApOh w hHu bhS SNuSN
and apply the remedy, as they now do
Investigations of railway casualties by
governmental bodies are farcical. Nat.
urally they cannot get to the same scene
in time to reach intelligent conclusions
1t is "the day after the Fair" for them
The attention of the taxpayers might
well be directed to the cost Of the super
fluffy of efforts that make no improve
ment in conditions.
Summarizing: A commission charged
with the responsibility of railroad
rates, the issuance Of railway securities
and their obligations of every kind, hav-
ing the power to prevent unnecessary
railway building and extensions, has
enough to do-leaving technical and me-
chanical matters to the natural experts
That part Of the transportation Act
whereunder the Labor Board was Gre
ated was bungle. No other word SC
ftly describes it. 1t is wrong in princi-
pie. A synchronization of wages in all
the United States is impracticable.
The Alkali District.
As an illustration. Some years age
the country to the south and west was
known, in the railroad vernacular, as
the "alkali' district. All men in the
transportation department of railways
in that district received higher rate
of pay than did those in the vicinity OF
Chicago, for the reason that living con-
dtons warranted it. In time that stu
alton automatically eliminated itself
Later on, and especially during Federal
Administration, wages were equalized