oc-plain-dealer 1924-01-03

EDITORIAL AND FEATURES An Independent Newspaper Issued Every Afternoon Except Sunday Paul V. Hester Editor and Publisher DAILY GREETING TO OUR READERS Beautiful is the activity which works for good, and beautiful the stillness which waits for good; blessed the self-sacrifice of the one, and blessed the self-forgetfulness of the other.—Anonymous. SYMPATHY PREVENTIVE OF MANY A SUICIDE There have been several suicides here in California during the Christmas holidays. Many a suicide might be prevented if the discouraged, despondent person were given sympathy in due time. It would be well if humane societies and kindly persons everywhere gave more systematic attention to the cheering of the despondent just when cheer is most needed. In this hurried, absorbed, strenuous time many a person with good impulses and kindly disposition loses many an opportunity to do much good by failing to find the discouraged to give them consolation and cheer. The person who has lost a dear one by death; the person who is out of employment; the person who is sick or disabled; the person who is under the clouds of adversity in any form, should have attention from the humane and the sympathetic. There are many who are strong in moral courage and in self-reliance. They sustain and comfort themselves, no matter how severe the blows of misfortune or grief. Many look to Heaven for spiritual aid, and weather their griefs. But there are many others who are not so strong in moral courage; who are more emotional, more keenly sensitive in nature, to whom adversities and bereavements are crushing. These should have comfort and consolation in their dark hours. This comforting, cheering and sustaining of the despondent and discouraged should be carried on with system and thoroughness by the good people of every community. Save the forests from ruthless destruction by fire or indiscriminate cutting. Replant systematically denuded forest lands. Conserve the timber supply of the future. PROSECUTE SWINDLERS IN OIL STOCKS It is a good omen, that swindlers in oil stocks are being prosecuted relentlessly by the Federal Department of Justice. Many indictments are being returned in United States courts, here in California, and elsewhere. Determination to prosecute relentlessly is noted in these proceedings. This is gratifying. These frauds are particularly despicable. In many cases they are arrantly cruel. The hard earnings of working folk are taken by smooth rascals, and the dupes soon find that their money is lost to them forever. The country should be rid of all spurious transactions in securities of any and every kind. The people should learn to protect themselves. They should look carefully and with business acumen into the stocks that are offered. They should seek expert, disinterested advice. And the person of limited means, who cannot afford to lose, should not venture into any investment which is not iron-cladly and unmistakably sound. There are honest oil stocks. There are honest, profitable securities of all kinds. A little care and a little advising with those who know—reputable bankers or brokers—would guide any investor aright in this. Railroad Rates and Transportation Costs Railroad Supplies Up 100% Freight Rates 32 3-10% Passenger Fares 35 3-10% Freight rates and passenger fares on the Union Pacific System have advanced less than half as much as the increase in the cost of engines, cars and other principal items of railroad expense. Comparing pre-war prices with those of today we find: | Commodity | Pre-War Price | Present Price | Pct. of Increase | | :--- | :---: | :---: | :---: | | Rail, per ton | $ 30.00 | $ 43.00 | 43% | | Freight Locomotive | 26,000.00 | 64,000.00 | 146% | | Freight Car | 1,100.00 | 2,500.00 | 127% | | Ties, each | .35 | .84 | 140% | | Steel (bridges, tanks, etc.) per ton | 50.00 | 96.00 | 92% | | Steel Passenger Coach | 12,000.00 | 25,000.00 | 18% | Paragraphs: The chief antiques and a pound. Another average bus chance than Epitaph: "to stop at the plenty of lesis If she burst stove and for the honeymoon No mere m will leave us as a jaw tool." The cheaper greater the value by the soup c As a rule, gives the port who has made lar's worth. He isn't a unless he tha make shaving feminate. One nice the radical is tha for a contribu progress. Children ha however, when Freight rates and passenger fares on the Union Pacific System have advanced less than half as much as the increase in the cost of engines, cars and other principal items of railroad expense. Comparing pre-war prices with those of today we find: | Commodity | Pre-War Price | Present Price | Pct. of Increase | | :--- | :---: | :---: | :---: | | Rail, per ton | $30.00 | $43.00 | 43% | | Freight Locomotive | 26,000.00 | 64,000.00 | 146% | | Freight Car | 1,100.00 | 2,500.00 | 127% | | Ties, each | .35 | .84 | 140% | | Steel (bridges, tanks, etc.) per ton | 50.00 | 96.00 | 92% | | Steel Passenger Coach, 12,000.00 | 25,000.00 | 108% | | Cotton Waste, per lb... | .05 | .095 | 90% | | Block Signals, per mile | 1,200.00 | 2,500.00 | 108% | | Switch Lamps, each ... | 4.04 | 8.40 | 108% | | Fuel, per ton | 2.11 | 3.38 | 60% | | Average annual earnings, (1912) | (1922) | | | | per employee | 884.01 | 1,808.47 | 104.6% | | Taxes | 4,668,875.00 | 13,251,552.00 | 280% | In the face of these increases, freight rates on the Union Pacific System during the same time have increased only 32-1-10 percent and passenger fares 35-8-10 percent. In 1913 we received for hauling a ton of freight one mile, 9.7 mills; for hauling a passenger one mile, 2 1-4c. In 1923, these rates were 1.285 and 3.035 respectively. The 1923 freight rate represents a reduction of about 11% under 1921 and passenger fares about 8% under 1921. In order to earn enough gross revenue to purchase a pint of ink, it is necessary for us to haul one ton of freight 42 miles; for a cross tie, 65 miles; a hand lantern, 91 miles; one freight car wheel, 1117 miles; and one monkey wrench 97 miles. To pay for a day of track labor it is necessary to haul one ton of freight 236 miles. For a days' wages of a freight train crew 2680 miles. For a day's wages of a machinist 461 miles. For a ton of fuel 263 miles. The railroads of the United States maintain the lowest rates and the lowest capitalization per mile, while paying the highest wages of any country in the world. So long as the railroads' cost of doing business remains at the present high level a general reduction of freight and passenger rates cannot safely be made. Constructive suggestions are always welcome. C.R.GRAY. President. Union Pacific System EASY ENOUGH TO MAKE GOOD RESOLUTIONS—BUT CAN HE KEEP THEM? SO NEW PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE LIE CONSTITUTION PAGE 1 GOOD LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTIONS FOR 1924 TAX REDUCTION GOVERNMENT ECONOMY FARM RELIEF R.R. FREIGHT RATE REDUCTION COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION LAWS PAGE 2 CONSTRUCTIVE LEGISLATION FOR THE PEOPLE CONGRESS-1924- PARAGRAPHS (By Robert Quillen) The chief difference between antiques and junk is about $36.85 a pound. Another advantage in being a grouch is that your friends buy their own cigarets. In the matter of deception, the average husband has no more chance than a set of false teeth. Epitaph: "He didn't have time to stop at the crossing; he has plenty of leisure now." If she burns a finger on the stove and forgets to mention it, the honeymoon is over. No mere man, when he is gone, will leave such a great vacancy as a jaw tooth seems to leave. The cheaper the restaurant, the greater the variety of noises made by the soup consumers. As a rule, the traveler who gives the porter a dime is the one who has made him work a dollar's worth. He isn't a regular "he-man" unless he thinks all devices to make shaving painless rather effeminate. One nice thing about being a radical is that nobody asks you for a contribution to help defeat progress. Children had better manners, however, when parents knew less PUT EDISON LIST FOR SAVI EDISON is owned by live in Calif EDISON has paid di for 13 year EDISON has total as to an essent As a rule, the traveler who gives the porter a dime is the one who has made him work a dollar's worth. He isn't a regular "he-man" unless he thinks all devices to make shaving painless rather of feminate. One nice thing about being a radical is that nobody asks you for a contribution to help defeat progress. Children had better manners, however, when parents knew less about psychology and more about apple sprouts. There are no dandelions to give the landscape a yellow tint in winter, but there are men who feel sorry for themselves. In a few more days little Willie will get to monkey with his Christmas radio set. Dad will be tired of it by then. A telephone is an instrument used by thoughtless people to annoy you about things that don't matter. "The unimportant things make us happy," says a feminine writer. Not unless they bring their pay envelopes home. Few of us are consistent, and many a man who won't swallow an insult will swallow something to insult his stomach. You will notice, perhaps, that it never is necessary to quote a precedent to back up a just and common-sense decision. Constituents are people who don't care a hoot what a congressman does so long as he sends government bulletins on request. Correct this sentence: "We have just the three children," said the mother, "but I hope to have at least five more." EDISON EDISON EDISON EDISON Southern California Edison Company 301 N. Main Street Santa Ana, Calif. Phone 46 THURSDAY. JANUARY THREE. 1924 Subscription Rate—In No. Orange co., per Yr., $3; 6 Months, $1.75 Entered at the Postoffice at Anaheim, Calif., as 2nd class matter. COMMENTS OF THE PRESS What Editors Are Saying LABOR SAVING GRADUAL PROCESS—Riverside (Cal.) Press Martha Bensley Bruere, writing in the Varsar Quarterly, says that not the multiplication of individual labor-savers, but "training in the technique of socialization," is what women really need if the saving of labor by mechanical energy is to do anything toward improving the race. In one way this calls for a step ahead of anything that has been accomplished so far in the way of freeing the home from drudgery. And yet, does it not sound like a voice from the past? Was it twenty years ago, or only half a dozen, that women were being advised to develop community laundries, community cooked food shops and the like? Some of them tried it—and tried hard. And for the most part, such institutions did not work. Undoubtedly these steps were taken too soon. That lack of "training in the technique of socialization" showed up glaringly as soon as the cooked food service was undertaken. Perhaps, in another twenty years, training in co-operation may have leavened the lump of individualism sufficiently, so that these things may be tried again, and be more successful. Meantime, there is needed the step of the individual labor-savers. They do lessen drudgery enormously, and in innumerable homes where servants could not possibly be afforded they free the mother sufficiently so that she may look up out of her rut. When she can begin to do that, in time she may arrive at a point where she can co-operate with her neighbors in sending labor out of the home. The jump cannot be made from the wooden washtub and the wood store to the community laundry and cooked-food service. The gas range and the electric washing machine have to come in between. The race learns, and the race improves. But one step is all it can manage at a time. ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT MR. HACKETT PLEASE NOTICE Tennis players are said to be urging a drastic revision to the rules governing this sport. The sporting editor suggests that they probably want mass plays, flying tackles and slugging eliminated. Also post mortems on Davis Cup matches. "MY KINGDOM FOR A FORTUNE" The throne of Albania may be offered Harry Sinclair, oil millionaire, it is reported from London. When an impoverished nation starts hunting for an angel it matters not whether the money comes from oil or tin plate. Witness the royal welcome and titled husband Mrs. William B. Leeds found waiting for her in Greece. MR. HACKETT PLEASE NOTICE Tennis players are said to be urging a drastic revision to the rules governing this sport. The sporting editor suggests that they probably want mass plays, flying tackles and slugging eliminated. Also post mortems on Davis Cup matches. "MY KINGDOM FOR A FORTUNE" The throne of Albania may be offered Harry Sinclair, oil millionaire, it is reported from London. When an impoverished nation starts hunting for an angel it matters not whether the money comes from oil or the plate. Witness the royal welcome and titled husband Mrs. William B. Leeds found waiting for her in Greece. AND NO WISHBONE Those who were unable to have turkey for Christmas will find some satisfaction in the thought that Gov. Donahey of Ohio did not have one either. According to word from Columbus he had pickled pigs feet and sauer kraut. Which was the easiest way of ducking the task of dividing two drum-sticks between eleven children. It's a lie to say Hi. Johnson has no platform. He has one. It has one plank and that plank is: "I want to be President." Scientists hope to burn air as fuel. Well, some of the air is pretty hot now. DISON ON YOUR IT FOR 1924 SAVINGS is owned by 66,000 stockholders, 90 pct. of whom live in California has paid dividends without interruption for 13 years has total assets of $186,000,000, devoted to an essential business has paid dividends without interruption for 13 years has total assets of $186,000,000, devoted to an essential business is free from peronal property tax in California and normal Federal income tax PREFERRED sells for $105 cash, or $106 on the installment plan