Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-16
C0UzENS ARRA|GNS
RAIL MANAGEMENT
Senator Renews Charge That
Condition of Equipment
Shows Incompetence.

r.eiterating charges that the condi-
ton of railroad equipment showed in
competent management, Senator Cou-
gems, republican. of Michigan, in
statement today, quoted figures to
SHOW that modern locomotives were
not efficiently used and that in recent
Years there had been great increase
- had-order cars and engines.
In | previous statement, Senator
Couzens said. he had asserted that
ttl-. general practice of railroad man
agement was to cut wages or raise
rates, instead Of endeavoTing to find
other means OF cutting costs. The
railroads replied, he said. that they
had reduced expenses IN 1922 over a
billion dollars, and that they averaged
only 1,645.237 employees in 1922, as
against 2,ol2,6o0 IN 1920. although
traffic was not greatly below the vol
UIne of 1922.
Says Statement Is Deceptive.
'Now let US see" said the Michigan
senator, "how deceptive this state
Tnent is. The Interstate Commerce
Comm iSsion'S figures showed that the
1922 traffic, was approximately Is per
cent less than in 1920, and you will
observe that the difference in the
plumber Of employees was approx
1nately - per cent, SO where is this
Haunted efficiency"
The bureau of railway economics.
Senator CouzenS said. had shown that
from 1920 to 1922 there was a con-
siderable decrease in the number OF
auiles Travelled by each car per day, a
Increase il the tons carried by each
car, d decrease IN net tons per train.
IN i1crase in bad-order cars of S9.2
Der cent and an increase Of bad order
locomotives OF nearly per cent.
Some Suggestions Approved.
Senator Couzens continued:
1T Is true that the program of the
railroads incorporates some excellent
suggestions. They are imposing upon
themselves some very excellent ideas
namely. the storing of all railroad
coal by September l, that the use OF
power and equipment for railroad
construction be restricted to a mini
mum after September I; that the
movement of coal and ore via the
lakes be accomplished early In the
season, all Of which is very COM
1nendable, and 7 hope will be carried
out. They call upon every household
er, snopkeeper. factory manager
toward relieving the heaviest traf-
3ic burden in the annals Of railroad
ing in the United States. This, /
hope Will be taken in earnest by all
The groups mentioned, 80 that we
may not only expedite service. but Sc
cure a reduction in the cost of trans
purtation.
Sees Reduced Charges.
"In this connection, I might also
point out that Mr. LOOMS. chairman
OF the committee on public relations
uf eastern railroads. said:
Despite continued high prices FOL
ruel and material and supplies. the
railroads cut over 4 billion dollars
IN from annual cost OF operation
Now, if that be true. and / have no
reason to doubt 1t. then we may ex-
rect q material reduction in transpor-
tat.on charges.
1T is the duty Of the railroads and
The Interstate Commerce Commission
70 see that the public gets the bene-
II Of these reduced costs OF operation.
Unless this is done, Congress will be
required at its next session, to adopt
ways and means to accomplish that
end"