The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-12-10

EE7 ASHINGTON, Dec. 10. - The
IIWI railroads will collect this year
III in freight and passenger
| charges approximately $500, 100000.
la billion dollars more than last year.
Spread this over the country and
each person in the United States
would pay about $3.50. The average
family of four persons would pay
about S24O this year.
Some place and somewhere and
somehow, everyone pays. The rail-
road bill certainly is passed on to the
consumer. In just one item, your coal
bill, the railroad charge this year will
be about IS more than it was in 1913.
Back in 1918, the railroads collected
$3.50 for every person in the United
States. In 1917, the charge jumped to
$3.50. In 1919, it was $48.90; in 1920,
! 1t was $3.50 And this year it will be
increased to $500.
Problem Is Important
With all this talk about the rail-
road problem" one of the best ways
to understand it and appreciate it is to
resolve 1t down to dollars and cents
and to see what it means in the cost
of living. The realization that it
means about s24O this year from each
family Of four persons, is a pretty
good index to the importance of the
problem.
Years of unrestricted operation with
its stories Of the Goulds and Hartman
| and Vanderbilt and Morgan and Mel
Ion and their exploitation OF rail-
roads-exploitation is the polite word
and we didn't pay much attention.
We read the sensational stories with
interested, but just as passing stories
We had two cent passenger fare"
and low freight rates and we lived
close to the farm. the factory and the
coal mine and transportation costs
We're not SO important
But today, with more than 60 per
cent Of our people living IN the con-
gested area north of the Ohio river
and east Of the Mississippi and with
the farm country miles away. the
problem is with us, or. as Senator
Sagnus Johnson says, rs now"
The railroad executives contend to-
day the people. as a whole, are salts
fed with transportation conditions.
and that only a few "demagogues" are
causing trouble.
Pledge Support TO Roads
Within the last few months or
ganiZed business and organized finance
have pledged their support to the rail
roads. They viii present a solid
front to the opposition in Congress.
They will tell this story:
We admit conditions were not so
good a year or so ago, but that condi-
ton resulted from war operations and
the necessity for reorganization. Now
the road shave reorganized and they
are more efficient than ever They
have carried record breaking loads OF
freight this year and there has been
no car shortage Give the roads
chance. kill off any new transporta-
ton legislation. and the roads promise
service. And It is service the people
want
The farmers problem is greatest,
but it has been exaggerated. The
railroad cost in the United States is
less than in any other country. The
railroad charge is lower than the
general cost Of uving-that Is. the in
crease since 1918 is less. Give the
roads a chance"
That the railroads story AZ it
will be shouted to Congress. The
story from the farmers and from a
good many shippers and from the con-
sumner is as follows:
Railroad costs must be reduced or
the country must be reorganized
The high cost Of living is really the
high cost of distribution and most Of
that is transportation The farmers
profits are taken and the earnings
Of the city man also. The railroads
collect from both ends"