Evening star., 1933-05-18

Proposed solution Of the problem Of
efficient railroad operation, on which
the President has indicated emergency
arrangements. is received by the coun-
try with sympathetic attention. 1t Is
believed to be in harmony with the
desires Of the roads themselves. Pre-
liminary efforts, under leadership of a
co-ordinator. are commended. and ulti-
mate consolidation Is suggested, while
modification Of antitrust laws Is felt
to offer an opportunity to cooperate
with other forms Of transportation. The
interests Of railroad labor are believed
to require careful attention.
The administration bill, in the
opinion Of the Topeka Daily Capital, is
'an effort to bring separate interests
together on a program for the greatest
good Of the greatest number" The
Rutland Herald feels that "the plan
has the appearance Of having been
thoughtfuly and constructively worked
out, and as such, it Is entitled to fair
and non-partisan consideration" While
uncertain that lit provides the best ap-
proach to the railroad problem" the
Baltimore Sun suggests that 1T at least
offers a suitable point Of departure for
remedial legislation" The Phila-
delphia Evening Bulletin Is convinced
that the President expects co-opera-
ton of the railroads and probably has
good ground for such expectation" and
adds that railroad management is
genuinely seeking readjustment and
more or less welcomes the backing Of
government and even some of its au-
thority to work out the problem" The
Lincoln State Journal advises that
putting men back to work. stabilizing
wages and making 1t possible for the
roads to do business at a reasonable
profit are all desirable changes from
present conditions"
Assuming that the roads "are on the
same footing as industry in proving
their inability to save themselves from
the effect Of overcompetition in their
own field" the Akron Beacon-Journal
holds that "in this they have invited
the Intervention Of . Federal co-ordi-
nator"
These plans" according to the New
York Times. have already met with
general approval" and that paper adds:
Even the Federal co-ordinator would
perform duties which the railways them
selves have come to consider indis-
pensable. They have discussed among
themselves a so-called 'cZar of trans
their own ranks. But to the effective
application of that particular recourse
there were inevitable obstacles A Fed
eral appotntee would escape the handi-
cap Of mutual jealousies and obstruc-
ton, although necessarily much would
depend on his personality and method" J"
The Portland Oregon Journal empha-
sizes the point that the railroads will
be In q position to win Government sup
port IF they show that they haven't
been asleep at the switch, but have
been doing the best they could with
times and competitors as they are" The
Indianapolis News sees "an immediate
tsckling Of the problem along lines that
may be productive of early results of
great Importance" Quoting the Presi-
dents statement that 1t Is an emergency
proposal, the Spokane Spokesman-Re-
view concludes that "he would have to
be a miracle worker to propose at this
time permanent plan, In addition to
the other stupendous tasks that he is
tackling with courage and initiative "
The Des Moines Register agrees that it
Is only an emergency measure, aiming
to deal with the problem until subse-
quent congressional SESSION.
1T forecasts radical changes in
transportation policy which ought to
mean q sounder national system" In
the opinion Of the Newark Evening
News. while the. Springfield (Mass.)
Republican thinks "it will apparently
come as near to meeting the emergency
as any plan that could be proposed"
and the Birmingham Age-Herald says,
I'm any case, here Is action, in re-
freshing contrast to vacillation Of the