Evening journal., 1923-02-16
HAMPER ROADS,
ATTERBURY SAYS
P. R. R. Official Tells of
Restrictions That Keep
Earnings Down
WOMEN CHEER
CHIEFS REMARKS

PHILADELPHIA. Feb. 1e.--By
default on the part OF the people
themselves the railroads have been
allowed 70 pass under a system OF
government regulation which stunts
their growth and threatens their
very existence as private enterprises
operated IN the public interest"
That declaration was the keynote
OF a speech by W. w. Atterbury. a
vice-president OF the Pennsylvania
Railroad System, TO 600 women at
the luncheon yesterday OF the Phil
adelphia Music Club IN the ballroom
OF the Bellevue -Stratford. The talk
was so far from musical that many
OF the women appeared amazed.
Mr.. Atterbury paved the way for
his protest against hampering laws.
Federal and State; against the In
terstate Commerce Commission and
the Railroad Labor Board by quot
ing Roger W. Babson. financial
writer and editor, in warning inves-
tors against Women Roads" He
specified the Pennsylvania as a road
owned by women, orphans, educa-
AAOAAaA AM-AAN4AAuUH anu a EAnuD OF
absentee investors" Few real. red
blooded men, he said, were inter
ested in the road, and he advised
investors 10 put their money into
railroads that haven't yet become
women's roads"
Mr. Babson. the-speaizer said. paid
tho Pennsylvania a high dompli-
meut and the management was
proud that many OF the stocishold-
ers were women. It was an indica-
don OF their confidence IN the man
agement. After giving statistics re-
leting 10 the road. he launched the
serious thought OF his speech fol-
lowing the quotation above.
Referring 10 the social. industrial
and. in large part. intellectual de- /
velopment resulting from the high |
ly developed transportation system /
OF the country. Mr.. Atterbury said: I
ITO say the least, the railroads 7
have been treated with suspicion .
with hostility and even bitter ami Z
mostly. They have been restrained /
ana denied a fair opportunity 20 sue
ceed instead OF being trusted, guid-
ed and encouraged by public au-
thority as a useful and altogether
essential instrument OF public ser
vice.
'ro describe IN detail how this sys-
tam OF regulation has grown up
would take entirely too much OF
your time. II has been an accumu-
lation OF largely unnecessary laws:
q constantly increasing exercise Of
Authority for political rather than
economic ends; a steady imposition
OF increasingly burdensome restric-
tions upon railroad management;
starving limitation upon income
proportionate adjustment CT
expenses and a condition OF forced
Inability on the part OF the railroad
officers and employees 20 work to-
gether IN a spirit Of friendly Co
operation.
What has been the effect OF this
wholly impractical situation2
HIast summer there was a GOAL
strike. It lasted several months dur
ns a period OF the year when ordi-
larily we would have moved tho {
greatest amount Of coal In our
way Of looking at suoh
.hfngs, most people paid little at
ention TO the strike and its pos
Iible effects until they began 10 feel II
chill in the air last fan. About that II
ime the strike was settled.
THE miners went back 20 work II
md the railroads were expected to /
laui in two months all the coal they H
hauled IN six months. II
Almost half Of the 1900 stock II
folders of the Pennsylvania are wo-
men. There Is no doubt IN my mind
hat II the women OF the country, z
salizing their threefold interest in II
his great transportation industry. II
would make an effort 70 know and II
Understand its problems and support II
he railroads managers IN their ef-
ort1 Co provide adequate railroad II
ervics at reasonable cost. the end OF II
ur difficulties would be IN sight" II
There was an outburst or ap-
ppiause at the close OF the speech. II
ollowed by general mumed conver-
alton at the tables. The women III
eemed puzzled by Mr.. Attterbury's
of music and harmony. as III
Id all the other speakers presented III
Y Mrs. Edwin A. Watrous. president, III
'ho was POSTMASTER. Those speak III
NJ were Mrs. Edwin 3. Garrigues. III
}. Edwin c. Broome, the Rev. DR.. III
lexander McColl, Ernest T. Trigg III