Evening journal., 1922-03-16
Lee Says Roads Need Stabilized Rwtes


turn specified by the transportation
Act and intended to be conferred by
the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion. Let us get them started func-
tioning. buying freely. and employ
ing full forces Of workers Then. II
II appears that rates can without
hazard be brought to generally low
er levels, We will be in a position to
go ahead with the assurance that we
are on safe ground.
Meantime, of course, any specific
rates which actually impede the
flow OF traffic should be revised; any
inequalities or discrimin atory situa-
tons existing in the rate structure
should be corrected Thousands OF
such changes have been made in the
last few months and are being made
today and the processes should be
continued in an orderly manner,
with resulting benefit to all.
Il have expressed myself as hope
full for the railroads future. That
feeling is based upon the improved
state Of public opinion toward the
railroads. the development of
! sounder and more constructive reg
ulative policies, and the unmistak-
able evidences OF fundamental i'm
provement in the relations between
railroad managements and working
forces.
THE improvement in public SEN
timent has been due almost entirely
to processes OF education which
have brought to our people a general
understanding OF the absolute neces-
sity TO the country of a sound sys-
TEN OF railroads Railroad bait
ing is no longer popular except to
a very limited extent. The news
papers, especially. are doing splendid
constructive work in helping to
make the real facts about the rail
roads more widely known and in
treating railroad developments rs
among the leading news OF the day.
THE betterment in our regllative
policies must be apparent to every
one. Responsibility Is settling more
and more definitely on the Inter-
state Commerce Commission. This
is as IL should be, because divided
responsibility in the past has been
one Of the most notable defects Of
our regulative system.
"The commission as now consu-
tuted is, firmly believe, earnestly
desirous of bringing back railroad
prosperity and progress. But in its
constructive work It needs the sup
port Of popular approval and par
ticularly the approval OF that por-
ton OF the public which most fire.
quently utilities the railroads, name
ly the shippers and business men OF
the country.
"As to the attitude OF railroad
working forces, have never believ-
ed that there was anything serious
ly wrong with railroad labor except
that II has listened at times to un-
wise counsels and submitted to some
poor leadership. These factors. plus
the effects OF the war hysteria which
no one in the country entirely es-
capped, chiefly account. l think, for
the unsettled and demoralized con-
dition OF our working forces when
the railroads were returned to their
owners 1t was commonly said that
morale was broken down, and the
statement at that time was un-
doubtedly correct. but 1 think that
! every one who travels on trains to
: any extent knows from his own OBJ
: servation that morale is now great
; ly improved. and with It the stand.
t ards OF personal courtesy and service
on the part of employees. generally
who come in contact with the public
p Forces, political and otherwise
have been at work, and still are al
{ work, trying TO keep management
and workers apart and make trou-
Bile but I firmly believe we are over
coming them. Here on the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad we are making un-
questionable progress in direct deal
ings between management and men
over the settlement of controversies
as to wages and working conditions
In the system OF employe represen-
tation which we have set up, in CO.
operation with our own men, / am
confident we shall find the secret OF
the peaceful and fair adjustment OF
any differences that may arise, with
out resort TO compulsion on either
side or the injection OF the unset
r Ting element OF politics.
For my own part, 1 have the
highest regard for the character and
intelligence of railroad men, and
, particularly for those employed or
the same railroad with myself.
know hundreds OF them personally
and l think the employees OF the
Pennsylvania Railroad are the flnest
body OF workers that can be found
, anywhere in the world, and I an
proud to be associated with them.
American labor Is the backbon'
OF the country and Is today demon
strating its ability to overcome thu
handicap OF mistaken leadership