Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-09
TO S1AY.
d
ASKS MORE ARM AID

tuiiiuk lEOiH poSslOic pioiit W
In tens OF millions.
II know of no problem exceeding IN
Importance this one of transportation.
We have built 40 per cent OF the
worlds railroad mileage, and yet flnd
it inadequate to our present require
ments. When we contemplate the IN
adequacy of today, it is easy 70 pc
lieve that the next few decades VIII
witness the paralysis of u transpor-
tation-using social scheme or a com
plete reorganization on some new ba-
sis
Manifestly. We have need to begin
on plans to coordinate all transpor-
tation facilities. We should more eff
fectively connect up our rail lines with
our carriers by sea. We ought to reap
some benefit from the hundreds of
millions expended on inland water
ways, providing our capacity 10 utilize
as we'll as expend. We ought to turn
the motor truck into a railway feeder
and distributor instead Of a Destroy
ing competitor.
Must Face Rail Problem
This transportation problem can
not be waived aside. The demand for
lowered costs on farm products and
bdStt iidtSltuiS tuIllOt pt l5hctSe
Rates horizontally increased TO meet
increased OUTLAWS during the war in
flation are not easily reduced. When
some very moderate wage reductions
were effected last summer there was
q 5 per cent horizontal reduction IN
rates. I sought at that time. in a
very informal way, to have the rail-
way managers go before the interstate
commerce commission and agree to a
heavier reduction on farm products
and coal and other basic commodities,
and leave unchanged the freight tar
ifs which q very large portion of the
traffic was able to bear. Neither the
nag nor the commission saw fit
to adopt the suggestion. SO we had
the horizontal reduction too slight 60
be felt by the higher class cargoes and
too light to benefit the heavy tonnage
calling most loudly for relief.
Railways are not expected to rem
der the most essential service in our
social organization without a fair re-
turn on capital invested. but the gov
eminent has gone so far in the regula-
ton of rates and rules of operation
that it has the responsibility of point
ing the way to the reduced freight
costs so essential to your national
welfare.
Government Operation View
Government operation does not af-
ford the cure. Clearly the managers
are without that intcr-carrier, coop
erative relationship so highly essen
tial to the best and most economical
operation. They could not function in
harmony when the strike threatened
the paralysis Of all railway transpor-
tation.
II remind you that congress pro
vided a Joint commission of agricul-
tural inquiry which made exhaustive
investigation Of car service and trans
portntion and unanimously recon-
mended in its report Of October 10.
1921. the pooling of freight cars I'M
der Il central agency This report
well deserves your serious consldera-
ton.
IN a previous address to the con
gress. I called your attention to the
insufficiency of power TO enforce the
decisions of the railroad labor board.
Carriers have ignored its decisions on
the one hand; railway workmen have
challenged its decisions by a strike on
the other hand.
1.-THE labor board itself, is not 50
constituted as best to serve the pubic
interest. with six partisan ember
on a board of nine. three partIsans
nominated by the employees, and there
by the railway managers, 1T is lneT-
liable that the partisan viewpoint IS
maintained throughout hearings and III
decisions handed down. | am well con-
WINGED that the functions Of thus IT'D
unal could be much better carried on
here in Washington. Even were 1t 70
be continued as q separate tribunal,
there ought to be contact with the
interstate commission.
For Labor Board Change
THE substitution of a labor division
in the Interstate Commerce commits
sion. made ND from it's membership. to
hear and decide disputes relating to
wages and working conditions which
have failed of adjustment by proper
committees created by the railways
and their employees, offers a more ef~
fective plan.
This suggested substitution will in
volve Il necessary increase in the mem
four. to constitute the labor division.
If the suggestion appeals to the con
gress. it will be well to specify that
the labor division shall be constituted
of representatives Of the four rate
making territories. thereby assuring a
tribunal conversant with the conditions
which obtain in the different rate max
ing sections Of the country.
II wish / could bring 10 you the
precise recommendations for the pro
vision Of strikes which threaten the
welfare Of the people and menace
public safety, It is az impotent c~iviliza-
ton and an inadequate government
which lacks the genius and the courage
to guard against such a menace to
public welfare as we experienced last
ufnmer Public interest de-
mands that ample power shall be con-
ferred upon the labor tribunal.
whether it is the present board or the
suggested substitute. to require its
rulings to be accepted by both parties
to a disputed question.
DepIores Labor Trouble
LET there be no confusion about
the purpose Of the suggested confer
ment of the power to make the de-
cisions effective. There can be nc
denial of constitutional rights to either
railway workmen or railway managers.
mo mar can be denied his right to
labor when and how he chooses, or
cease to labor when he so elects. but
since the government Il to safe
guard his interests while employed in
any essential public service the secur-
ity Of society itself demands his retire
ment from the service shall not be so