Evening star., 1925-09-01
ARTICLE III.

Americas S railroad presidents have
decided ideas as to what is needed to
increase our present-day prosperity.
AS it is they find it good; but, from
a railroading point of view. it could
be made better. Too much govern
ment, too many conflicting laws, too
little opportunity to exercise indivldu'
aIity of enterprinse-these are the
plants of many of the executives of
our great railroads who have respond
ed to this correspondents inquiry
What should we do to increase pros
perity2"
Straight talk comes from most of
them. Witness the following from w.
G. Besler. president of the Central
Railroad of New Jersey:
who and what has suggested that
we have not in this country as of to-
day. business prosperity?
Il might ask with equal purpose,
What is the chief need to increase
the population to which l would
answer, Let nature take its course,
and stop meddling with peoples pri-
vate affairs, and stop political meddling
with business affairs.
And to that l might add a long
list of further stops and at the head
of that list would be, stop passing
foolish laws limiting legitimate op-
portunity and throttling by intolera BILE
regulation business enterprise.
How should the need for increased
prosperity be met? BY an awakened
and aroused public interest in what is
going on at National and State capi-
| tails, where -seH-seekinG politicians and
half baked theorists are meddling and
attempting to interfere with matters
| which they do not understand.
Dc ie
willing to admit that in every sue
cessful enterprise, no matter whether
| it be social. religious, political, bust
| ness, agricultural, or what not. there
must be intelligent direction by ex
perienced and able leaders if success
| is to be attained; and that a town
meeting never got anywhere beyond
| the status of a vast amount of hot
air and the venting of Individual
opinion by those with the gift of CAB
and who like to hear themselves talk
IF one may rely upon the state
ments which have been published
showing the small percentage Of yot
ers who go to the polls. it suggests
itself that only some hard knocks
which will reach the peoples pocket
| books rather than their heads viii be
the awakening influence that this
matter requires.
Lower Taxes; Less Meddling.
To which. in general terms, Percy
| r. Todd. president of the Bangor an6
Aroostook. assents in the following
| statement:
"The chief need is reduction in taxa.
ton and less Government interference
| in business. The more taxes are re
duced the more people will be encour
! a. i. IL z~lA
| nlent of business, and the same is trus
| as to Government interference in bust
ness.
| This need can be met by Congress
keeping it's hands off. The result will
! be more development of new business
and more prosperity in existing bust
| ness following almost immediately
after the suggestions made above be
come operative"
| On behalf of all the class ] railroads
| in the United States, a $40, ,000. 900 ,00t
industry, President r. II. Ashton ,ol
| the American Railway Association
says:
ANY answer which I am able tf
give to this particular inqufry-what
is the chief public need today to in
crease business prosperity-will have
to do with the problems affecting thu
steam railroads of the country. Ms
reply in two words would be, Ade
quate revenues
| Actual earnings of class | railroads
of the United States since 1921 on thu
! tentative valuation basis represen
an aggregate deficiency in net operat
| ing income exceeding 81 900, 900 900. Il
/ is manifest that the railroads have
not been, and are not now, adequately
compensated in terms of net operatins
] Iincome by rate of return for the