Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-12-27
RAILROADS AND THEFT m
PIOYES.

Chicago 1rttune
Mr.. J. c. McMullin, of the Chicago and
Alton railroad. enjoys the distinction of be-
ing one of lie ablest railroad managers in
the country, and ne deserves il. The great
and prosperous road in his charge is always
kept in first-class condition, and we believe,
ms n rule, that there is less cause for COM
pla;nt by the patrons of his road than in the
case OF any other road in the west 1t nIav
also be concluded that Mr.. McMullin is
thoroughly informed about the resources
and necessities of the railroads, and is COM
petcnt witness on such matters. But be
made one statement before the Illinois COM
! missioners which he will find il extremely
difficult TO defend. He sad:
I'VE have got 10 lake our share Of the
troubles mat are coming 10 Us; but If we
have 10 reduce because things are cheap,
why. we have got TO find somebody that we
can reduce, and there isn't anybody in sight
except the employees. They claim not 10 be
paid any more than they are worth. and /
hear, If any attempt ri considerable re-
auction is made upon them, il would pro-
duoe the same result rs in 1871, only It
would be more intensified, because we have
more population than we had them
The implied menace of reduction of
wages paid 10 railroad employees in case rail-
road freight rates be reduced, may suggest
all the troubles which Mr.. McMullin fore
sees. but Il will not be conceded that SER
ious cutting Of wages must follow as mat
ter of necessity or OF right. Mr. McMullin
seems to think that it is necessary that the
Chicago and Alton Railroad company shall
continue to declare per cent. dividends on
Its whole capital stock, which Is inflated far
beyond the original cash investment The
public will not concede that proposition.
How much capital, outside Of certain ;av-
cred railroad investments. is earning per
cent. per annum in these days.
How much is earning :, or 9, or
even 5 per cent: How much Is the
great agricultural interest earnings State
Senator S,raeter, from Mercer county, stated
! a. the same meeting. as result of his own
observations and farming experiences. that
the farmers during series of yesrs had not
earned more than six per cent. of thcir capi-
tai ailer paying expenses, repairs and taxes.
But at presen. they are not paving expenses.
Does Nj. Nc Mullen imagine that the rail-
road owners, -ssnder prevailing conditions,
can sustain the claim 10 $ per cent. divi-
bends as a matter OF right when the farmers
who furnish the railroad business. arc earn
ing nothing.
If the present rate OF wages paid TO rail-
road employes be so low that :rv reduction
Will threaten strikes and riots, such a. cc-
CURED in 1877. thea a reduction Of railroad
earnings below s per cent on inflated stock
Will no. warrant the railroad owners ia i'm
posing the loss upon their operators. II a
Favored class % Wall street capitalists csnno,
be asked 70 remit any part Of an 5 or 10 per
cent. interest on their alleged investment
without imperiIing the living wages
OF their worsmen who arc opera;-
ing their roads, then there would appear 10
DC s..>-,,i, reason TO appieheGd strikes and
riots. If the railroad earnings must be
KEEP. up TO the ten per cent level on the
whole mass Of stock without any regard 10
current rates of interest, or the
shrinlsge ofpriees and profits in ether lines
Of business, or the necessities OF the laboring
classes. then the granger protests against Ia
reasonable charges has not come sEy too
soon. Ii Is high time for tie railroad men
TO revise their ideas on this subject