Evening star., 1926-10-21

The old problem Of maintaining
weak railroads, complicated now by
motor bus competition, again 10
harassing the Interstate Commerce
Commission and demanding public at
tention. In recent statement before
the commission, l.. F. Loree, president
OF the Delaware and Hudson and a
director Of many railroads, frankly
declared that about 10 per cent Of the
railroad mileage Of the United States
should be scrapped as obsolete. His
argument that 1t Is morally wrong to
tax strong roads for the support of
the weak Is stoutly disputed in much
of published comment on the situa-
ton.
Quoting as Mr.. Loree's idea, Com.
bination tends to economy; therefore,
let the stronger have their way at
any cost to the weaker" the New Or
leans Item remarks: THAT is, indeed,
the rule of life and the order of bust
ness We should agree wholly with
Mr.. Loree therein IL his plain, though
unstated, premise were correct. If
railroads are operated for themselves
alone, then railroad economy ought
to rule. Everything else ought to
give way to railroad economy, in spite
Of life and death among the little or
kTG Wedh. buL IdltEOdNS diC ltOL OP-
Grated for themselves alone. They are
operated for public service. They are
not endowed by the public with their
valuable privileges and immunities
for the mere pleasure or profit their
owners and managers may derive
from building tracks, buying equip
ment, firing locomotives and other
wise entertaining themselves. They
are chartered to move passengers and
commodities. This is their primary
and paramount function-not econ
omy or the profit 1t brings"
such a wholesale elimination as
entered into" in the opinion of the
Roanoke World News, without the
realization that it will wreck the
hopes and ambitions Of thousands
who have invested along the lines of
those roads; that 1t will retard the
progress OF very large areas Of the
country. Opposed to the Loree theory
is the more progressive and more
economically sound theory advanced
by Fairfax Harrison, president of the
Southern, and by other leaders of the
railroad systems of the South. They
have fostered new industries on their
branch lines, have aided in the build
ing of new communities, have encour.
aged better farming methods and
have kept constantly on the alert for
new population. In this way lines
that were once improbable have be-
come valuable feeders to the trunk
system"
Citing practical examples, the
Worcester Telegram says in criticism:
when motor busSeS first appeared.
railroad officials pooh.poohed them.
Then they fought them. Now they
themselves are running buSSeS. Rail
road officials speak with great conf
ience Of the future of their long dis
tance business. They have no fear of
motor bus competition there. Is it
possible that they are too pessimistic
about the short-haul situation? Is it
not possible that they are too ready
to tear up 'cancerous' tracks? Pres
ent railroad policies are clear proof
that railroad officials once underesti-
mated motor bus possibilities. So the
layman can hardly be accused Of pre-
sumption II he suggests that Mr..
Loree may now be overestimating bus
possibilities, even as regards the
smaller roads" The Newark Eve
ming News adds its comment that,
while "Loree believes Congress erred
when it planned in the transportation
act to link these weaker roads with
the stronger lines by consolidation and
transfer of excess earnings" never
theless, evidence accumulates that
the stronger system arrangements
might rescue some Of these down-at-
heel feeder lines
The Wall Street Journal says Of Mr.
Loree: He is perhaps the ablest rail-
road man in the United States and in
modern methods of transportation the
most progressive. He knows that the
railroads have succeeded in regaining
their present level OF relative pros
peqity not beca use Of Federal regula-
ton. but largely h spite Of IT,