Morning journal and courier., 1891-02-16
TRAIN SERVICE OFTHE
CONCLUDED FROM FIRST pAaE.l

century and one generation, had not half
the vital interest to the existence and in
dustry of the people of the civilized COM
munities of the world that is given by the
mighty railroad service of to-day. Even
methods of warfare between nations, if
warfare must exist, have been revolution
lied by railroads, and they are more i'm
portant for success in war than were the
navies of England during the great wars
of the Napoleonic period.
Success or failure in peace or war de-
pend upon railroad systems. The success
of the railroad systems depends entirely
upon the fidelity, intelligence and devo-
ton to duty of the men engaged in train
service AS I look back over twenty years
acquaintance with few of the railroads
and railroad men of the country, and com.
pare the development, growth and i'm
provement in systems and management, I
am forced to the conclusion that no de-
partment of business carried on in our
country rival the development, growth
and improvement of the work in which
fidelity and courage are your rule. These
virtues have been developed wherever
there has been system, and the train ser
vice of the United States is in most re-
spects far beyond that of any other coun-
try in the world.
There are many excellent things, how
ever in the train service of other coun-
tries.
(Mr. Harrison here mentioned several
illustrations of what he had seen in
France, Germany and other countriss.)
GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT.
It is manifest to every observing person
that the plan of consolidating railroads in
sections of the country 80 as to bring
them under one management, thereby Civ
ing better service and better rates to the
public, will go on as rapidly in the future
as it has in the past. We see this process
of consolidation going on all over the
country. Systems from the Atlantic ocean
to the Pacific are practically bound togeth-
err under one direction. New England
railroads are uniting for their own and the
general welfare. transportation from
New York to Tampa and the West Indies
is being brought under one management.
The efficiency of train service and of the
men employed in it naust proceed upon the
same lines of improvement and develop
ment; and the question arises, What is
due to the men engaged in train servicea
Nearly all of them enter this service early
in life. 1t requires constant, daily care
and has it's full share of danger. The ser
vice is of a character that does not tend to
lengthen life. Its pursuit for twenty years
does not fit a man for other avocations.
There are due to men engaged in this ser
vice, permanency, promotion, provision
for those injured by accident, and pen
sions for those who become superannuated
after years of faithful service. How can
these be best secured for those employed
in train service? Those who are fond of
paternalism carried to it's extreme in gov
ernmental affairs, those who are always
| anxious to shift responsibility from the
shoulders of individuals to those of the
state; those who would sink the energy Of
the individual into that of the many, look
to governmental ownership of railroads as
the proper end of the railroad system OF
the country. If the railroads are to be-
come the property of the government, and
| to be managed by the government, it may
| be said that permanency of employment
| promotion and pensions could be secured
| for those engaged in the railroad service oil
| the government. To be sure, efficiency
| permanency and pensions do not attach tt
| the postoffice or revenue departments O.
| the government at the present time. Tht
advocates of government ownership, how
ever, think that in some way the railroad
systems of the country, if owned by tn
government, could be managed as the reg
ular army is controlled. 1t would be vel
l AoA ooSh, AO"ONOi5 w PoJ iOCA w oAo La III
murs that are occasionally heard from
West Point and Washington against tn
personal favoritism that prevails even il
the regular army. If half that is state,
is true, personal influence in the war de
partment counts for much moro than II
any railroad system of the country unde
existing corporate management. It i
very certain, however, that until politica
human nature is changed and parties ar
organized upon very different bases thai
those which prevail to-day, the politica
party in power when the government as
sumes the control of the railroads vii
never permit the rich prizes to pass be
yond its control.
A few of the thoughtful observers O
the many involved questions of the da,
have considered favorably government
ownership of railroads under certain cir
cumstances, and as a possible relief TO
some of the burdens under which railroad
suffer at the present time. A plan whicl
has been carefully elaborated provide
that the government shall in the first plac
acquire the ownership of all interstat
lines. Payment for the property thus &C
quired to be made by an issuance of bonds
to be sold in the market, OF delivered t,
the holders of the present securities, a
rates that would be determined by ap
praisal of the properties. The rates to b.
charged for transportation would be fxet
upon the theory Of paying operating OF
penses keeping up the condition of tn
property, paying the interest on the bond
and providing sinking fund annually o
from one to two per cent. upon the amour
of the bonds issued. The rates for trans
portation to be changed from time to tim
as the conditions of business permit, 80 as
to equal the charges for operation, repairs
improvements, interest and sinking fund
A board of national railroad director
would be appointed by the president t
serve during good behavior, and sucl
board would have the authority to fix al
rates for transportation. After interstat,
roads had been acquired by the nationa
government, either the federal government
or the states severally would acquire tn
roads that are wholly within the lines O.
the several states, upon the Same princi
Piles and operate them in the same manner
Rates for transportation within the statei
would necessarily conform to, and harmo
nize with, the rates charged over the inter
/ state lines.
All persons employed upon the railroads
whether engaged in train service or other
wise, would be appointed to positions af
ter due application and examination, anc
| would serve on probation for the first
| year. After the first year, if they were
permitted to continue in the service, sucl
| employees would not be discharged without
sufficient cause, and only after due inves
tigation by proper court of inquiry SO
| lected from their superior officers in tn.
employment. ALI general regulations an6
orders for the operation of the railroads tx
be in accordance with the provisions o.
the several acts of Congress which nigh
be passed for the purpose. The govern
ment would be required to make provision
for all employees injured by accident, ant
also to provide pensions for those who hat
served faithfully for many years and hat
become isacapacitated for further service
None of the plans proposed, so far as
have seen, provide any protection agains
strikes or combinations to quit work I
would seem, if the railroads of the coun
try are to be managed upon the principles
of employment that prevail in the regula
army, that, as there are severe penaltie
for desertion in times of active service, 81
there should be punishment for refusal t.
work. If the government managing tn
railroads, or a corporation owning or ope
rating railroad, is to provide permanen
employment and pensions for those VIII
become incapacitated after faithful Sol
vice, there should be, from the peculia
nature of the service, reciprocal obliga
ton on the part of the employe to stan
faithfully at his post of duty or suffer
penalty for desertion.
| Nd