The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-08-10
Railroad Cooperation
WASHINGTON Star

| Joseph B. Eastman, Federal CO.
ordinator of transportation, has ap-
pealed to the railroads to do their
share in the administrations recovery
drive. In his message to the railroad
executives Mr.. Eastman reveals the
TACT that already the railways of the
country have since June / put 10000
back to work. This in itself, as he
says, Is great accomplishment. It
has been made possible by the recoy-
cry business that already has come
with increased car loadings, increased
travel and the necessity for increased
maintenance work.
No industry in the country will
benefit more by the success of the re-
covery program than the transporta-
ton systems. Business and more
business Is the very breath of life to
the railroads. It was the terrible
slump in production and consump-
ton OF all kinds of commodities that
brought the railroads to the very
verge OF destruction during the hard
years Of the depression, and which
placed many Of them in the hands of
receivers. The railroad co-ordinator
set up by act of Congress to aid the
railroads, has taken this occasion to
urge them to help themselves through
common sense program. He has
called upon them to expend eyery
available dollar in putting men back
to work. Mr.. Eastman has by no
means thrown overheard the need for
economy in operation of the railroads
That Is something fundamental. But
here Is the opportunity for the rail-
roads to spend freely and wisely for
repairs, maintenance and improve
ments.
The American people have come to
realization that they are pretty
much all in the same boat. They
must pull together If they are to
make Roadway. The employer who
hangs back at this crucial stage OF the
recovery program is as much an enc.
my OF himself as he is of the rest OF
the people. There is going to be nc
preferred class, no class of Americans
who can swim along on top of the
stream while others are whirled away
by rapid Inducements. TO use the
vernacular, there must be a greater
distribution of the gravy or else there
Will be no gravy. The railroads can
do their part. It is. true that they
have been under strict Government
regulation, with their rates fixed for
them by governmental agencies, hours
OF labor and the like. For that rea-
son 1t Is not now demanded that q
code for the railroads be set up. All
the laws. so far as the roads are con-
cerned. have been in the interest OF
falr competition. The law providing
for Federal rail co-ordinator tends
also to obviate the necessity of a spe-
ctal code for the roads. However. II
to keep step with the rest of the Ma.
ton the railroads are urged to adopt
code OF fair competition. they may
do so without violation of the present
agreements, and, indeed, without great
harm to themselves.
The railroad systems of the country
are the backbone of the transporta-
ton system. They have faced great
tnroads upon their business from
other carriers, particularly the motor
trucks. buses and privately owned
automobiles. There has been no Fed
eral regulation of these interstate car
riers which compete with the rail-
roads. It is high time there was such
regulation. And certainly codes OF
! fair competition should be insisted
upon In connection with those car
riers.