National Republican., 1877-07-31
WHAT THE RAILROADS. ARE RE
iSPONSIBLE FOR.

SPONSIBLE FOR.
Now that the troubles growing out Of the
strikes seem to be ended Tor u time people
are beginning to consider very earnestly
whether some plan cannot be devised to pre-
vent recurrence Of such difficulties in the
future. The railroads are not the only par
ties interested In this subject, since the
evils resulting from contestslikc those which
we have Just gone through will affect all
citizens, both rich and poor high and low
We do not want any mor such wars rs
those which threaten to destroy not only
the railroads and their employees, hut to
rcvolutionize society and throw the country
into condition of barbarism.
II the railroads were managed in accord.
ance with the principles of sound political
economy, there would he no danger that
difficulties like those which have lately pro.
duced such disasters would arise. The ac-
tual management Of these corporations has
in many instances, been so uuwisc that
there can be but little question but that they
have contributed thereby TO the calau,ities
which have lately befallen them, and
through them the country. without enter
ing into all the particulars of this railroad
mismanagenent, II will answer Our purpose
to cnumerate sonue of the abuses which
should be reformed.
The business capacity which the president
and other officers Of railroads should possess
in order to conduct that sort Of business
successfully is of no ordinary character 1t
must be admitted, however, that the salaries
paid to these officials are, iu many instances,
larger than is necessary. The amounts paid
have been fixed not 80 much because it was
necessary to pay such salaries in order to
get competent officers, but because the Off
GERS themselves aud their friends have had
such controlling interest in the roads as
enabled them to arbitrarily fix their own
compensation.
Now, when companies are rich and able
10 ray good dividends to the stockholders
There IA not so much objection TO the pay
1nent Of large salaries, though even in such
cases the interests of small stockholders may
De unfavorabiy affected by excessive pay
ments in this way to the members of fa-
yorite ring. Wheiever n railroad. however,
- in an embarrassed OF insolvent condition
the temptation is greatly increased for ofii-
GERS owning q controlling interest to vote
themselves large salaries. In that way they
can take care Of their own interests, no
matter how much those of the general stock
'holders may suffer. Now, when a railroad
which is paying large salaries shows a dis
pbtitiUu W OnlN ny tHt
wages Of the laborers, they offend the conf
mon sense Of justice of all mankind. fire
ductions have TO he made upon the score Of
economy, the reduction should be made pro
,rdta upon the salaries Of all the employees
from the president down.
But IL Is not by the payment of excessive
salaries alone that the general stockholders
of railroads are plnndered. The iniquitous
system of watering railroad stocks is too
well known to require discussion here, nor
need we dwell upon the infamous and
wicked devices by which rings plumber the
general stockholders by forming inside
transportation and express companies and
palace ear associations, by which the legiti-
mate earnings Of the stockholders are alb
eorbed by the select few belonging 10 these
rings Officers who are parties TO such
schemes cannot with n good grace reduce the
wages Of laborers upon the ground that the
companies are unable 10 pay them their old
wages when that inability has been caused
by their own wrongful act in plunderins
the company Of it's legitimate earnings
Through transportation company or some
similar device.
ssNhen the property of the railroads was
Installed by lawless violence the people of
the United States with great unanimity
stood by the railroad companies in defense
of their rights and their property. Now
that the trouble is over and peace restored
Il is proper that all the causes Of the late
disorders should he inquired into. In such
nm inquiry it is impossible to avoid taking
notice Of the wrongs committed in TOO many
instances by railroad officials, especially as
those wrongs had much to do with pro-
yoking the recent outbreaks.
D,,hI ntt q,
these abuses, but intrenched as they are be-
hind local laws and State lines il has been
impossible to reach them. The matter is
one which would really I've proper subject
for national legislation, for it does not seem
probable that any etlectual remedy can ever
be obtained by local legislation in regard TO
The great railroads which extend through
several States, and which possess such inn
perial influences. They can only be cont trolle,l
by the power of the General Government.
There is, however, much which the rail
road companies ought TO do voluntarily.
Their interests and those OF their employees
are identical whenever u milrOad is honestly
and squarely managed. Every honest road
bught to cndeavor to identify its employees
with its interest by n sort of railroad civil
service. Let it he understood that fidelity
will he duly rewarded. Adopt system by
which any man entering the service of the
company would by taithiulness have n
chance TO reach the highest positions in its
service. This would make il necessary to
a,ave regular system OF promotion ior
snerit, and Of pensions for those disabled in
she service of the company or incapacitated
by reason OF old age.
I A great railroad company, like the Balti-
more and Ohio, for example, by adopting q
system like this could soon attach to its
service body of men who would feel u
personal interest in the prosperity OF the
company, and instead OF turning theiI
hands against it they would always be
ready to fight for il, M ior their very hearth.
stones. Labor under such n system nigh,
cost more, but the company would get
much more work out Of the willing aud in
terested servants which this system would
give it,
The great calamiiies which have just he
fallen the country did not come without .
cause. 1t would he easy to point out tho
sins and iniquities which they were sent +,
punish. Let the railroad companies an,
The nation take warning and do justice, AM
thus avert still greater misiortunes from the
land.
EMPLOYMENT FOR LABORERS