The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-01-15

w Oul ONPASo-
sion? Asks Former Senator John
w. Mccullough, And Suggests that
The Railroad Brotherhood as Well
AS the Railroad Management Let
Well Enough Alone.
To the Editor of The Republican.
The Railroad Brotherhood got their
eight-hour day and advance in wages
as a war measure. When the Govern
ment took the railroads over as war
measure to help win the war, the rail-
road management had some fear that
the government would keep the rail-
roads. The management of the rail-
roads passed the word down the line
to all employees to be as worthless and
extravaganza as possible so the cost of
operating would run so high that pub
lie sentiment would force Congress to
turn the railroads back to the origi-
nal owners, which was done, and the
same system of management prevails
today.
In 1914, the average freight rate
for long and short haul the country
over was $1.94 per ton. Today for
the same haul the rate is $500 per
ton. Passenger and Pullman rates
were raised 33 per cent as a war
measure and remain the same today.
In 1920, when the Harding Admin
istration took charge of the govern
ment the Fordney-M Cumber Tariff
Bill was passed-the highest tariff
that was ever imposed upon the Am
erican people up to that time.
The railroads consume over 90 per
cent of all the iron and steel manu-
featured in the country and were well
satisfied to pay the price for their ma
terial when the public was paying war
time freight rates on all the commod-
titles they consumed. What has been
the result of high freight rates and
high tariff? It has practically bank
rupted the farmers, coal operators
and lumber operators of the nation
who produce the necessities of life
and comforts of mankind. These are
among the most worthy industries of
the nation, and more than so per cent
of the people depend upon them for
their living. 1t is also far-reaching
with the merchant and with business
generally. Why? Because high tar
if does not benefit any of these indus
tries. They all produce more than the
country consumes and the price of
their products is governed by foreign
markets, while all they buy is in a
highly protected market. All Of these
industries have heavy tonnage, and
on an average have the longest haul to
seaboard and the large markets. The
freight rates they have to pay are
double what they should be. All OF
their products at this time are the
lowest in price in the history of the
country. Why should not freight
rates be put back to the 1914 sched-
ule and railroad labor be reduced to
pre-war wages, and see that employees
do a days work for the wages they
receive. Passenger and Pullman
rates should also be reduced to pre-
war prices.
The railroad operators would not
need to go to the Interstate Commerce
Commission and complain that the
passenger buses and trucks are TAX
ing their business; they would have
plenty to do.
The Railroad Brotherhood would not
need to complain to Congress that
they have one hundred and forty
thousand men out of employment, and
they want six-hour day with no re-
duction in wages. They would have
plenty for all of their number to do
at ten hours day with pre-war
wages, and there are millions Of men
who would be glad to have such
position today.
Again considering the tariff ques-
ton: A tariff for revenue and reve-
nue. only is all that any nation, in
justice, should impose upon its peo-
pie. The consumer is scarcely justi-
fled in paying a bonus for his neces-
sites. People with large families con-
sumo the most and are the least able
to pay bonus to the government.
Take, for instance, a high protective
tariff such as we have had for the
past ten years, and especially the
Grundy-Hoover Tariff that is now in
effect. What does that do for the
people? For every one man that ben
efits by the present tariff a million
people, if not more, are injured by it.
EIl1 E,.uaE