Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-12

notably New York. became blocked.
The Judgment OF those with mos,
intimate knowledge is that official
ineiiieieney is solely responsible Tor
this eosdilion. Then Presiden, VII
son. by proclamation dated Deeem-
Der 70, 1917. took over all the trans
portstion systems OF the country,
absolutely.
The government operated the rail-
roads until March 1, 1890. On De-
eember ~. 1919. the president issued
proclamation that Oh days there
after. towit; March |. he would de-
liver back the roads to private con.
troll. Having involved the affairs Of
the railroads IN inextricable con-
fusion. having permitted their roll
ing stock and equipment TO deterior-
ate. having inflated their pay-rolls
and maintenance charges by billions.
having destroyed both the credit ana
the morale oi the roads, the presi-
dent, without tho slightest opporlu-
nifty for adequate preparation. said 10
the congress and the country: Here's
the mess we have madc-now you
clean il up In the two months re-
naming, 4 republican congress, try
ing 10 do the best il could with hos
decentralization. hastily wrote and
passed the transportation act Of 1920.
Durng the 70 months OF federal con-
troll. the congress. responding 10 the
urgent and repeated requests OF the
administration. appropriated Sl,7s0,.
100000 from the treasury for the rail-
roads. In addition to this vast sum
for the six months guaranty period
under the transportation act, $780,
100000 more will be required. In
addition. $500. 900. 900 will be required
TO settle outstanding claims and
S300,OO0.000 more has been provided
to make loans to the railroads. under
the transportation act. Thus we
find a total burden on the treasury
of S2,950.000,O00 caused by the utter
folly OF the last administration in
its railroad program.
LaWSultS fendlng.
"Nor is this all. Thousands OF law
suits arc pending in which the gov
crnmcnt has contingent liability. In
Minnesota alone 6,C00 lawsuits orig
mated in one fire. Many OF the
equipment trusts and dcfinitivc obli-
cations we have taken run for ten
years yet. We must maintain rail.
road administration for at least ten
years to come and until its end, no
one can tell what our obligations are.
Nor was this the worst. No soon-
or were the roads under government
control and operation than a system
attic course Of exploitation began for
personal and party advantage. Wages
were raised when requested and when
not requested. The total additional
annual burden caused by government
operation was $l,765,000,00O. The
prices Of materials and repairs were
boosted to the skies. Executive or
ders were issued with confusing frc-
quency, almost all of which tended
to destroy discipline and morale.
Minimum wages were established for
all branches Of the service. A fair
illustration of these orders was that
of Feruary IA, 1918, when Mr.. Nc
Adoo ordered: Mechanics applying
for employment will not be denied
such employment for any other
cause than inability to perform the
work." and by which order any an
archist or I. w. w. who apphed for
work which he could do must be en-
ployed. When the government took
over the roads, 80 per cent Of the
cars were upon their own roads;
when the roads went back to their
owners, 80 per cent OF the cars were
on other roads, from which they did
not return for long periods.
All this was done without any cor
increase in rates to COM