The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-24
Union Head Claims Money Has Been Wasted During Course of Shop
 mems Strike
By Associated Press

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.-A petition asking Investigation into the ex- penditures of railroads in coping with the national strike of shop craft employees has been filed with the in terstate commerce commission by the International Association of Ma ehinists, 1t was announced today by W. II. Johnston, president of that or ganization. Other railroad unions participating in the strike, which Is asserted to be still In progress on number of roads. will join in the pro- ceedings later. Mir. Johnston added. By "wanton expenditure of funds made available to them through ex- eessive freight and passengerSrates' the petition charged, railroads on
 which the strike still persists arc adding to the burden of transporta- ton costs borne by the public. In addition, 1t was asserted that rail- road accounts are being improperly made up with "grossly distorted la Dor and other operating cost items The commerce commission was de-
 clared to have an official respon- sibility in the matter of determining whether such expenditures could De considered as making for efficient and economic management and also for determining whether railroad ac- counting methods were correct.
 Reduced Rates Blocked
 Progress towards reduced freight rates, persistently demanded by agri-
 cultural and shipping interests of
 the nation. has been effectively ana
 consistently blocked by the carriers
 In recent months" the petition said I "as result of their costly and
 utterly unwarranted labor policy. The present freight and passenger
 rates originally determined by you on the assumption that adequate standards of economical and efficient operation would be fulfilled by the carriers. Consequently. if at any time they are not fulfilled, 1t becomes 1 the duty of your honorable body to I act in q way that will record the
 facts of the situation and effect the
 necessary remedies" Railroad equipment has been ai- | lowed to fall into disrepatr. the peti- tion continued and shortages Of cars and locomotives have handicappeu shippers and reduced rail earnings | ting worse on the Pennsyivania system, and on the New York, New
 Haven and Hartford, two Of the larger roads on which the strike Is still described as effective.
 EFFICIENCY DEMANDED
 "Farmers, shippers and travellers astounded when they learn to what
 purpose the exorbitant rates whicn they have been paying have been put by railroad arrangements in the iast
 six months" MT. Johnson predicted
 tonight in a statement.
 s"The transportation act makes ma ndatory upon railroads honest ei | ficieflt and economical operation, II they are to be, etntitled to rates which will net them fair return upon l their property investment. It VII certainly be difficult to explain now, under this provision of the law ~
 can be maintained that the majority
 of railroad managements have been conducting their properties with que
 regard for efficiency. economy anu
 reasonableness of maintenance ex-
 penditures when 1t Is realized now
 they have been squandering money | in their effort to destroy the unions of their shop employees"
 ! .xt- ..,,co for ontstriD that of