Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-04-28
RAILROADS GIN BIG
TEST, HASKIN SAYS
Daily Letter by Frederic j. Haskip

WASHINGTON, D. c., April as
The railroads managers of the Unit
ed States regard themselves and the
whole theory OF private ownership
and operation as being on trial
perhaps a final trial. They believe
that they must engage this spring,
summer and fall in proving to the
American public that private opera
ton is practical and desirable n
preferable either to government
ownership or to private ownership
under government operation.
A combination of circumstances
r Identifies the present period as one
of final trial.
Congress is away from Washing
ton in one of the longest recesses
in recent years. 1t is not due to
owen again until the first Mon
day in December. During the last
decade or two the railroads have
been subjected to q variety of leg.
islation, some of 1t highly expert
mental. 1t is the claim OF many
statesmen that the railroads have
proved that they need experimental
legislation to find out what is wrong
with them. On the other hand the
railroad executives declare that If
would only let them alone
for a while they would prove them
selves worthy.
1t ls definitely known that when
does come together next
December there will be a concerted
effort on the part of several mem
bers to enact now and radical rail-
road law. Certain senator's, classed
politically as radicals, have made no
secret of their plans to introduce
bills almost revolutionary in char
acter and providing for still further
experiments in railroad control.
Even the conservative senators have
some plans for new legislation. But
what the railroads are most appre-
hensive OF is the proposed legisla-
ton which radical members like
Senator Brookhart and Senator La
Toilette have told their friends ana
supporters they are preparing.
For these reasons, the railroad
managers took a deep breath of re-
lief when adjourned sine
die ON March 4 and the President
announced that under no circum-
stances would he summon an extra
| session. They looked upon the nine
months recess of congress as a
| chance in which they might operate
| free from the worry of pending leg
islation. They regarded this per-
iod as their opportunity to prove
| that private operation can serve the
public adequately,
Fear Government Ownership
Railroad executives haye held con-
ferences since the adjournment oil
congress and have worked out az
extensive program for the express
purpose of capitalizing this free
period and organizing every effort &c
give railroad service. The railroad
men know that the year 1923 viii
provide the greatest tonnage of rail
| road freight that ever has been of
fered in the history of the country
They fear tina IL they cannot handl'
this freight eKpeditIously the pun
lie will say that the roads nave hat
their last chance, and, when tn
radical railroad bills are offered II
congress next winter. will give Their
support, possibly leading to govern
ment ownership.
To indicate how great an effor
the railroad men are making to WI
public confidence and appreciation
thew have appropriated the vast sun
,, of SI,54O,0 600, 900 to be expende
on facilities. One of the most IRE
auent causes of public complain
against the railroads has been ca
shortage. When the farmer want
to shin his crop, he demands rail
road cars and if he cannot get then
he blames the railroads.
This vast sum is being expende'
for new cars, new locomotives, ne'
, tracks, switches, terminal facilitie
and the scores of other improve
ments which will put the railroad
In shape to handle a peak load o
traffic.
The executives have worked on
their full program in a comprehen
sive fashion and have stated 1t q
follows:
:. 1. That by October /, 1928, whe'
) the peak movement ordinarily be
:, gins, cars awaiting repairs be re
duced to the normal basis of 5 pc
/, cent of the total equipment OF tn
country. This figure recently ha
been as high as II per cent.
2. That by October 1, 1929, 10
! comotives awaiting heavy repairs b
reduced to a normal basis of 10 pc
cent.
, g. That TO the. extent coal is stor
ed for railroad use. complete tn