360 WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION

case (132 I. C. C. 582), there occurs the following language with reference to a
cost study introduced by the interested carriers:
“In other words, even if the cost study were accepted without question, it
would indicate that the prescribed rates are slightly above the operating expenses
and would confirm the impression obtained from comparison with other rates
that the new rates, while probably of less than average profitableness, would
still leave the traffic attractive to the carriers.”
How far the commission may follow any thought that might be inferred from
She quoted expressions is a question, and the carriers wish it clearly understood
that if they do not agree with any expression or decision of the commission they
are not presuming to present or discuss such disagreement here; but there is a
sharp contrast between the theory of “fair return” required by section 15(a)
of the commerce act, and measured by the order of the commission fixing the rate
of fair return at 534 per cent, and the theory of ‘“at least some margin of profit’ or
of revenues ‘‘slightly above the operating expense’ apparently recognized by the
commission in its effort to adjust rates on certain products of the soil under the
Hoch-8mith resolution. And whether the commission be right or wrong, and
whether there does or does not exist the depression in agriculture announced by
the Hoch-Smith resolution, the practical situation which faces the carriers is that
it is proposed that they be required to submit to rate reductions in order to meet &amp;
depression said to exist in agriculture and that too, as demonstrated in the
deciduous-fruit case, without a replenishment of revenues by corresponding
increases in rates on other commodities.
In this situation the carriers in justice to their obligations to the public and to
themselves can do no less than respectfully but earnestly submit that if there is
a depression in agriculture making it necessary that rates already admittedly
reasonable be reduced, then that depression, to the cure of which they must so
contribute, ought not to be aggravated by making it difficult for the farmers to
procure their usual supply of that labor on which they are accustomed to rely.
If that depression does exist this would be the poorest possible time to add to the
problems of the farmer.
The carriers join all good citizens in the desire that the progress of agriculture
be facilitated and its rewards increased, and in addition they have a deep concern
born of their own obligations to the public and of intelligent self-interest. The
proposed legislation threatens a substantial reduction of their revenue tonnage
without which they can not serve the public with their present efficiency, and it
threatens loss to the farmers which it will be demanded that the carriers share,
a demand which, if carried into effect, would still further affect their necessary
revenues.
Bearing this in mind, it is significant that if this legislation be adopted the
carriers will be forced into a position such, on account of their own use of Mexican
labor, that they themselves can not avoid adding to the difficulties which the
farmers must meet.
Figures furnished by six railroads situated wholly in the West or operating
transcontinental lines to the Pacific coast, having in the aggregate 43,546 miles of
main track ! with great additional mileage of switches, sidings, and other tracks,
all of which must be maintained for the public service, disclose that from 67 to 68
per cent of their section crews and 90 per cent of their extra gangs are Mexicans.
These men do work which absolutely must be done if the railroads of the West
and Southwest are to continue to function.
The section gangs do the work of constantly keeping in order the tracks and road
beds. Each crew is definitely assigned to a particular short portion of the track—
a particular section——where they are constantly at work in maintenance from day
to day. Much of the territory traversed by these and the other lines of the West
and Southwest is arid, a substantial portion of it is actual desert, and a great deal
of it is sparsely settled. The section laborers must live there, for their work is
local. Only the Mexican can or will live in many of these districts, and as the
obvious result, if the Mexicans are dispensed with there are no other laborers to
take their place.
The work of the extra gangs is not confined to any particular locality. They
do the work of improvement and major repair when and where necessity requires
it to be done. They live in railroad cars which form a part of work trains, and
their place of abode is where these cars are placed. They are to be found where
there is steel to be laid, or where a washed-out embankment is to be replaced, or

} The roads referred to are the Atchison, Topeka &amp; Santa Fe, the Colorado &amp; Southern, the Denver &amp;
Rio Grande Western, the Southern Pacific, the Union Pacific, and the Western Pacific. Each mile of
double track is counted as 2 miles.