The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-23
NEWSPAPERS NOT TO BLAME.
eeorgia's Railroad Policy Responsible
fOr the RAILROAD airr,..sr-

Seorgla's Railroad Policy Responsible
LOT the Railroad situation.
EDITOR Morning Nel0s-I have read with
interest your editorial in reply to the views
expressed by Mr.. McBee IN regard to the
railroad situation. Mr.. McBee is mistaken
In saying that the attitude of the news
papers Is the cause Of the present embar-
rassment under which many of our roads
are suffering. He is certainly in error 50
tar as the newspapers OF Georgia are con.
cerned, for with one or two exceptions.
tney nave been perfectly fair and lust tow.
a,o the railroads. The poor railroal en-
ploye VINO goes home to his family empty
handed and out OF work at this glad Christ
mas time, is not going to hold the news
papers responsible for bis discharge.
The trouble with our railroads is that
sney nave been hammered at by O class of
patriots who are afflicted with a con-
Stunning desire to serve the people for a con-
sideration, until they are, many of them.
barely able to keep out of the hands OF re-
celvers. Nearly 500 miles of railroad in this
state are now being operated by the courts
through receivers, aud twice as many
more miles are drawn closer to the
court house and the sheriff's block every
oay. IL Is painful task to the manage
ployes, honest and steady coworkers, that
they must go because expenses must be 70
duced. Now, Mr.. Editor, If the cause of
the necessity for reducing expenses can be
asoertalned, then the mechanic and the la
borer can understand the superior force to
winch he must surrender his family's
bread. When all the world about him Is
Joyous and happy and he is sitting with his
family before the fire to which they have
constantly TO draw nearer because the wood
Is gone; II he can learn why expenses must
be reduced, this strong-armed fellow who
has lost his place, will know who took away
his wood pile. He will then know who or
what 1t was that destroyed his credit at the
grocery store.
These ofice-seeking patriots whom have
mentioned have tried hard to educate the
people OF Georgia up to the belief that
everything railroads touched turned to gold
and they could stand unlimited burdens In
the way OF reduction In rates and In in
creased taxation.
This policy of constantly bearing down
upon the railroads is having its effect
slower trains, fewer trains and inferior
passenger service. This is one way of re-
ducing expenses. A smaller force in the
shops and a smaller roadway force and
inferior tracks. This is another way of re-
these things on the one hand and bank
ruptcy on the other. In this unhappy situa~
ton the railroad manager, hoping Co post
pone the day of insolvency, discharges his
men and reduces expenses.
The men from whose hands have been
struck the tools of honest labor are not go
ing TO tell their wives and children that the
discharged them, nor are they
going TO censure their superior officers for
their misfortune, but when they thoroughly
understand the situation they will appreci-
ate the fact that Georgia's policy toward
her railroads is at the bottom of their
trouble.
When the railroads have to pay about one
third in amount Of all the taxes of the
state, as they have done this year, they
have TO economize, and they have to make
every train earn every cent possible.
hope the limit Of oppression has been
reached, aud that there is better day COM
ing for the man who owns railroad stocks
and bonds and the man who works upon the
track and in the sh7rs CITIZEN