The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-07
Roads, While Increasing Their Earnings, Are At The Same
 Time Filling Up Ammunition
 For Radicals In Congress
LOWER RATES AND MORE REGULATION DEMANDED
Senator LaFOllette Is Soon To Arrive Back From Eu-
 rope Ready To Figtil-First Step Of Coolidge Watched
By THOMAS L. STOKES

(By Leased Wire to The Age-Heraid( l WARRINGTON. Oct. 6.-Railroads | of the country, steadily increasing their ratio of earnings with the booming of fall business, are at the same time piling up ammunition for progressives in Congress who are de- manding more regulation and reduc- ton of rates. Progressives naturally Bin point to the returning prosper | ity of the carriers as their strongest argument for rate reductions.
 Eastern and southern roads earned over the 5.75 per cent guarantee of ths transportation act for tue firet eight months of this year. WesteI n roads are still behind, out are i'm proving. The roads are going big ger business now than ever before | fli their history, which will be a ficlp in withstanding the attacks of the coming months.
 Within two weeks Senator LaFol lette will be back in the capital from Europe, ready to roll up his sleeves and begin his winter job. With his arrival the progressive pot will begin to boil Repeal of the transportation act, lock, stock and barrel. stands at the top of the program. which he and his 34 colleagues in Congress will broadcast ahead of the Presidents annual message to Congress. Want Roads Revaiued
 Tn addition, progressives have an- nounced their intention of demanding revaluation of the railroads at a much higher. figure than that fixed by the interstate Commerce commis- ion in its tentative estimate. On the basis of a higher valuation, they will ,~1 rtx ia fo fad The increasing prosperity of the roads will be a most valuable aid in their campaign.
 Meanwhile, President Coolidge is getting ready to formulate his rail road recommendation for Congress In the last few weeks he has con- ferred with numerous railroads of flcials. getting their views. As yet he has made no definite decisions as to what should be done about the rail- roads. He has been busy for the last few weeks with agricultural relief. The President handles one question at a time. Railroads will be taken up next
 Whether Coolidge will follow the general program which had already been outlined by Harding and Sena- tor Cummins. chairman of the inter state commerce committee. is nor known. This program included:
 Q O O
 Cumming Program.
 1. Strengthening of the transpor- tation act, by putting teeth in the railroad labor board and giving 1t power to enforce it's decisions.
 ?. Removal of the board here, to work in close conjunction with the interstate commerce commission.
 3. Consolidation of railroads.
 Ben w. Hooper, chairman of the labor board, recently conferred with President Coolidge and gave him picture of the boards work. He came here to impress upon the Presi- dent the necessity of strengthning this federal agency.
 Consolidation is a much discussd problem. Most of ther ailroads favor some consolidation plan. but many are opposed to temporary grouping fixed by the l. c, c. and all of them are opposed to compulsory consolida- ton. Besides increased efficiency, it's advocates claim that consolidation will permit an adjustment of rate structures, with cut in some places, which will help make it popular.