Show BIG BIC RAILROADS WILL It RETRENCH ST ST. PAUL June 15 The 16 The Pioneer Press says sara today that the policy of retrenchment threatened by the railroads railroads rail rail- roads oads because of federal activity in preventing preventing pre- pre venting an Increase In freight rates Is being put Into force forc and that the plan plans Is s not confined to this part of or the tho coun- coun try ry So far tar it has hili meant the laying off oft of about bout laborers In the northwest Orders h have he e been received from headQuarters head- head Quarters practically to stop all new construction construction con- con work and plans for proposed extensIons have been temporarily dropped The Northern Pacific has given orders to o lay layoff oft off 2500 m men n the Great Northern and the tho Northwestern accordIng accord accord- Ing ng to estimates Tho Chicago Milwaukee Milwaukee kee St. St Paul laid off b between 1000 and 1200 the first part art of June in the northern northern north- north ern rn district alone alone For the present the latter alter road Is not extending tho the policy of f retrenchment In tb the northwest It was learned that the Santa Fe has laid off ff men and tho the Chicago Rock Island Pacific 1500 President Howard Elliott of t the tho e Northern Northern North- North ern rn Pacific this afternoon Issued a statement statement statement state state- ment giving the tho reasons reason for the action of f the railroads In which he says aS a'S Increased taxes Increased prices for labor abor and material and the enlarged powers of tho the railway commissions Irean tyre re all an working to reduce the the- thenet net earnings of or railroad companies so 10 that it seems prudent pro pru dent for tho the board of or directors and railroad railroad railroad rail rail- road officers to consider most carefully not only th their duty to the travelers and shippers over their roads but also their duty to the very large number of pe people whose whoM money Is Invested in railroads and ho tho large class of Investors investor to whom the railroads must go If SC they are to obtain money for additions and Improvements and extensions It seems therefore th the part of ot wisdom not not- notto to engage In new enterprises en- en at the present time and not to undertake too much work |