Montana labor news., 1935-12-26
Railroads In The
Trucking Industry
Continued from Page y

%NE
and on all the other requirements and
necessities Of life? A simple story will
reveal how this tribute is exacted.
Recently the railroads have gone into
the trucking business and apparently
they are in it to stay. Much like other
giant corporations, the railroads have
little concern for the welfare of their
employees. These railroads are now
using the highways OF the state OF
Montana by placing monster trucks
upon them, and have gained this per
mission through authority OF state
boards prior to January lst, 1885.
The most vicious propaganda of the
railroads IS that they pay most OF the
taxes OF Montana, this claim is entirely
without foundation and is believed only
by the most guillible and those who are
ignorant of the real facts. These PEG
pie who believe the statements of the
railroads do not know that the indi-
vidual trucking companies, which are
owned by the citizens of Montana, and
who spend their money in Montana and
employ none but Montana people, are
paying much more in taxes pro rata
for the amount OF freight carried, and
employ more men than do the rail-
roads. In substantiation Of this state
ment, reports from the Interstate Com
MERGE Commission are that the truck
ing industry pays over ~S3l2,OOO,OOO per
year in taxes. This compares to $215,-
100000 per year paid by the railroads.
The average truck engaged in in
t~erstate hauling pays approximately
Sl,875.O0 in taxes and license fees,
which nearly equals the cost Of the
truck each year. The trucks pay over
Is per cent of the taxes, yet they rep
resent only Is per cent OF the vehicles.
Millions Of dollars paid by the trucks in
taxes are diverted to other uses besides
maintaining the highways, in other
words, the trucks do not, by any means,
Operate free over the highways"
The trucking industry was the great
est industry registered under the ma
tional code and gives regular employ
ment to over 100000 men, a larger
number than the railroads employ by
over 100000.
The traffic carried by trucks consti-
tute but nine per cent of the total traf-
fic. From 1923 to 1920, when business
was good, the railroads reduced the
number Of employees by II per cent
and a prominent railroad authority es-
Inmates they could handle 20 per cent
more business without increasing their
payroll. In other words, if the truck
ing industry was eliminated, taxes on
automobiles would have to be greatly
increased, railroad employees would not
benefit and the extra money would
simply 60 to the financial interests con
trolling the railroads.
The trucking industry is composed Of
several concerns, which are financed
and operated by their owners. There
are no inflated salaries, no watered
stock, no government loans. A year
ago the railroads borrowed from the
Government $446,966,982.
Truck service is essential to many
communities which are not served by
the inflexible rail facilities. The truck
ing industry has become a reality in the
transportation industry. It was they
that made the domineering railroads
reduce their e%xorbitant rates by COM
peting with them. 1t is they that the
public is indebted to, because they made
it possible for the man who ships the
worlds wares to exist.
In conclusion let US say that the
same old spirit of greed is manifest in
all Of the affairs of the railroad. AT
the present moment they are attempt
ing to put the small transfer men out
of business, besides throwing numer-
Gus pickup drivers out of employment.
This is done through allowing large
firms ten cents per one hundred
pounds, rebate, for delivering shipment
and receiving them at their depots on
arrival. Most of these concerns have
numerous trucks operating in the usual
course of employment, and this addi-
tional work is added to them; while the
man who formerly made his living ex-
clusively in this line OF work is now
jobless. 1t makes one wonder whether
the Traffic Department of the Rail
road and Public Service Commission
was in error when this permission was
GRANTED. The ruling Of the Traffic De-
parement, in this connection, tends to
injure the small shipper who does not
have the equipment to go into the
transfer business, In fact it is a detri-
ment to him because it makes the price
Of his commodities higher than that
G. the big operator on account of the
higher freight charges that he has to
pay. By all means a public hearing
should have been held before the Or
der was issued.
1t is the large concerns that will reap
the benefit of this new order. Again
the large operators and corporations
will get the benefit. The railroad loses
nothing and it is all taken out of the
man who tolls and works and tries to
make a living in the state Of Montana.