Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-01-02
RAILROADS AND THEFT EN-
PIOYES.

Chicago Tribune
Mr.. j. c. McMullin, of the Chicago and
Alton railroad, enjoys the distinction Of be-
ing one of the ablest railroad managers in
the country, and he deserves II. The great
and prosperous road in his charge is al ways
kept in frst-class condition. and We believe,
as a rule, that there is less cause for COM
plant BY the patrons of his road than in The
case of any other road in the west. 1t may
also be concluded that Mr.. McMullin is
thoroughly informed about the resources
and necessities of the railroads, and is a COM
petent witness on such matters. But he
made one statement before the Illinois COM
missioners which he will find it extremely
difficult to defend. He said:
I'VE have got to take our share OF the
troubles that are coming to US; but If we
have to 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 to be
paid any more than they are worth. and
hear, if any attempt at a considerable re-
duction is made upon them, it would pro-
duee the same result rs in 1877, only 1t
would be more intensified, because we have
more population than we had then"
The implied menace Of a reduction of
wages paid to railroad employees in case rail-
road freight rates be reduced, may suggest
all the troubles which Mr.. MeMuilin FORE
sees, but il will not be conceded that n 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 S 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 fav-
ored railroad investments, is earning : per
cent. per annum in these days?
How much is earning {, or d, or
even 5 per cent? How much is the
great agricultural interest earning? State
Senator Streeter, from Mercer county, stated
at the same meeting, as a result of his own
observations and farming experiences, that
the farmers during a series of years had not
earned more than six per cent. of their eapi-
tai after paying expenses, repairs and taxes
But at presen. they are not paying expenses.
Does Mr. McMullen imagine that the rail-
road owners, under prevailing conditions,
can sustain the claim to s per cent. diyi-
bends as matter of right when the farmers
who furnish the railroad business, are earn
ing nothing?
If the present rate of wages paid to rail-
road employees be so low that any reduction
will threaten strikes and riots, such as oc-
Cured in 1877, then reduction of railroad
below s per cent. on inflated stock
will not warrant the railroad owners in i'm
posing the loss upon their operators. If a
favored class OF Wall street capitalists cannot
be asked to remit any part of an or 10 per
cent. interest on their alleged investment |
without imperiling the living wages
Of their workmen who are operst-
ing their roads, then there would appear to 4
be good reason to apprehend strikes and
riots. If the railroad earnings must be |
kept up to the ten per cent level on the
whole mass of stock without any regard to /
current rates of interest, or the /
'hrinkage ofprices and profits in other lines
If business, or the necessities of the laboring /
classes. then the granger protests against UNI /
charges has not come any too
oon. 1t is high time for the railroad men
o revise their ideas on this subject.