Evening journal., 1922-08-11
FRIDAY, AUGUST II, 1922
TRUTH AND TRANSPORTATION


LLDRoBABLY no piece of national legislation has
il been more misrepresented than the Transporta-
ton which the railroads were returned co
their private owners" declares the Republican Pub
licity Association. through its president Hon. Jonathan
Bourne Jr. "a few agtators who find It to their in
terest to curry favor shippers have represented
that the Transportation increased freight rates
few radical labor leaders represented imposing In
iusce upon railroad employees. Thus there is studied
effort to create widespread public prejudice against
the act particularly among wage earners and Shippers
He adds that there few outstanding and incon-
rovertible facts which every citizen should keep in
mind. one OF these is that during the twenty-six
of political of the railroads un-
der the Democratic administration, the expenses OF
operation were increased of the increase
with the result that the roads opera-
Ing at loss OF s4O 900 per month $3.50 100000
per year. The Democratic administration took the
roads when they had in their treasures for
Grating expenses turned them back TO their private
owners with their treasures empty. Instead of in
rreasng freight rates. the Democratic Railroad Ad
inistration upon the Federal Treasury for part
Of the left the remainder of the deficit to be
paid by the Republican administration.
Notwithstanding the roads being operated at a
loss representatives of the employees filed appca-
ons for increases months before the roads
were their private owners which increases
II granted, would have imposed increased expense
the roads OF SSOO,OOOiOOO per Inc Deho-
cratic administration action upon those appl-
cations but after returned to their pri-
vate owners the Railroad Labor Board because OF the
increased cost Of living granted increases which
added s6500OO 900 per year TO the expenses OF the
roads This together the previous rate of deficit
meant that the roads would be operated at loss Of
SEQ ooO 900 per month than $1,000 100000 per
year
That is the why increases in freight
and
regardless of the Transportation Act 1t has been
peatedy stated though falsely that the transportation
Act guaranteed the roads income which would
able them pay dividends of 81 cent The fact is
that the bill merely authorizes which will
the amount to not to exceed u per cent. on
the actual value OF the property. No dividends what
guaranteed, and the fact some Of the
large and important railroads country are pay
ing dividends whatever If the Transportation Act
had made reference freight rates. the
exgences of the situation would made It impera-
for the Interstate Commerce Commission to grant
increases which would enable the roads pay their
operating expenses. Instead OF imposing a burden
upon shippers the Transportation in reality pro-
tects shippers by limiting the to such
rate as will pay the roads the whole Y per
operation
1t is an amazing thing that the Democratic party.
which was chiefly responsible for conditions which
brought the railroads to the verge of bankruptcy
should now charge the Republican party with respon-
sibity for the freight rates which their mismanage-
nent made absolutely inevitable.