The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-03-14
The Railroad Question .


The existing complications on the
Gould roads west and south, again
directs the public mind to the gen.
eral railroad question, and men are
impartially and periodically attempt
ing to peer into the maze 20 find. II
possible, some means to guard effect
ually against these murderous inter-
ferences with the business of the
country SO often and SO inaptly oc-
curing either from the cupidity of
the management or the willfulness of
the employees. There is no end to the
legislation already had in the several
states on this head, and yet there has
been nothing offered which promises
the least semblance of relief or Sc
curity for the future. The bill which
passed the Texas senate the other day
requiring the companies to give
thirty days notice before making a
cut, and which further places heavy
penalties for interfering to prevent
men from seeking employment with
the roads, is another of those
dead-lettcr affairs which we print
only to see them help to swell great
volumes of statutes as impracticable
and rs useless as the shadows on the
moon are to the jewellers OH the
earth. Even with Rcagan's inter-
state commerce bill we would have
no remedy against such state OF
affairs as now exist on the Gould
lines in the west. The roads them
selves can do nothing to guard
against these occurrences. In these
great combinations there are always
one or more roads which pay we'll
sometimes enormously, and these
must carry roads which are run at q
dead loss. Whenever the Hostages ex.
coed the profits then these measure:
of reduction follow, and combined as
they are, the roads which pay are
placed in the same awkward position
occupied by the non-paying roads
and the people who support and pour
their business into the line which pays
are put at the same disadvantage ex.
rerinnced by the neonle along tho line
OF non-paying road, like the NJ. X. x
y. The duties of public carriers arc
clearly defined and well understood
Numberless enactments, both by state
legislatures and by congress, set these
out very fully and very clearly. But
they all fall to the ground promptly
whenever the road fails TO pay, and &
reduction, with its resultant strike
and consequent interruption and en-.
tire stoppage occurs. We look ia
vain for relief to many sources. We
appeal in vain TO the patriotism OF
employees and the sense of justice Of
the arrangements of the roads. These
are beautiful theories, but when we
attempt to reduce them to practice
we are met eflectually by sucl
declarations as these: That Is al
very nice, but we can't pay II
with the existing state of trade
the men ought to be worth more
ought to be paid more, but how car
we do it? Or on the other hand by
the men with, yes, we admit the road
is not paying, but how can man
live and maintain family on les:
than a dollar a day? Before these
two answers the loftiest statesman.
ship of any age will stand dumb and
voIceless.
Clearly. then, something else must
be done. A remedy should be sought
for in some other direction. Our
government will be compelled to as
sumo the charge of operating the
roads as do those of Europe gen.
orally, and as ours does the postal SER
vice. 1t win be many years ere this
idea will be relished by the people or
its general discussion be tolerated,
but still we will be forced TO it iney-
itably in the end, no matter If it is
concentration, pure and simple. One
general per mile rate for both passage
and freight; one general wage for
all sorts of labor or service on the
roads, and these TO be paid on GER
tain day surely and certainly, no mat
ter If the lihe realizes money or not
for the government. Now bear this
matter In mind and see If from this
out the discussion of the ways and
means by which this mighty change
may be wrought are not more fire.
quently aud fully talked than they