The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-23
FEWER RAIL UNITS IN THIS COUNTRY,
 HARDING SUGGESTS
Government Operation Would Be Colossal BIunder, De-
 cIares President
(Continued from Page one)

(Continued from Page one) task for which no solution has been found.
 1 Tt is.. therefore, being seriously proposed that the next step be to 1 further amplify the provisions for consolidation so as to stimulate the consummation. It Is my expectation that legislation to this end will be | brought before Congress at the next | session.
 There are some roads-many If the smaller ones, in fact-whose con tinued operation Is absolutely vital to many thousands of people, to con- siderable towns, to large areas of ce untry, whose revenues simply can not provide financial facilities through earning, pending a consider able growth in community popula- ton. to say nothing of earning any return whatever on capital invested. No legerdemain of court processes. receivers certificates, or financial jugglings. can save them. They must get more revenue or stronger support or quit operating until the country Is more largely developed.
 "The railways have become public ly sponsored institutions, anr the gov ernment must find way to avoid
 
 maintain service and proper re- turn upon capital which will assure them of a growth commensurate with the cCuntry's development.
 O O O
 Keep Equipment Adequate.
 There is another particular req son which urged the early adoption of the largersystem plan. It would be long step toward solving the problem of keeping the railroad equipment adequate. Many financial ly weak roads are unable to provide all the rolling stock they need"
 With regard to relations between the railroads and their employees, the President declared he did not believe 'It possible under our form of gov ernment tC compel men to work against their will, I do not think 1t desirable under any form of gov ernment."
 q say this" he added fully recollecting my vote in the Senate in favor of the anti-strike provision of the railroad act In 1920 That was not a provision denying men the right to strike. It was merely a re- quirement that before the men should strike or the employer should lock them out. both sides should submit their differences to properly con- stituted and impartial tribunal. em- powered to consider the facts, de- termine the merits, and make au award.
 Tt was believed that in the vast majority of cases this procedure would prevent ltck-outs and strikes; and. in view of the enormous floss to the carriers. to their employees and to the public resulting from strikes. I profo1ndly regret that it should not have been possible to give the plan fair trial. If human wisdom shall ever be capable of setting up such tribunal as that, and Of in spring both sides of the controversy with complete confidence in 1t, we will have travelled long way toward industrial peace. Believes It Possible.
 Personally. I have confidence that the thing is possible I believe so firmly in the underlying common sense of both organized industry and organized labor, and in the fairness toward both on the part of the great public on which both of them are finally dependent, that I believe at last it will be possible to arrive at settlement of industrial disputes in public services by such a method.
 There Is another highly important phase of the transportation problem very much worth our attention. believe the use of our inland water ways offers thef one sure way to re- duce carrying charges on basic ma terials. heavy cargoes, and farm products.
 ."The federal government has ex- pended approximately $1,130,610, 900 on river and harbor improvement. The millions expended on inland waterways. on rivers and canals. have brought small returns because we have put them to no practical use. We have failed in co-ordinati ting serv- ice and have allowed the railroads to discourage every while de- velopment.
 'I believe we should encourage our water service, we should encourage and enforce co-ordinated service, we should see to an equitable division of rates. and exact rate reductions whenever practicable to operate suc- cessfully under rate reductions.
 'I wish the railway leadership of the country could see the need of this employment of our water routes as an essential factor in perfected trans portion. and poin in aiding the fea- sible plan of co-ordinating service, cheapening charges, not alone as means of popularized and efficient public service, but as means of ending the peril of their own for tunes.