The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-09-06
THE BIG FOUR CUT.
why Ills Claimed to bo Justifiable. Hard
Times Descend to Employees, But
Not TO Laborers.

Why II is Claimed to bo Justinable. Hard
Times Descend to Employees, But
Not to Laborers.
"The Big Four railway company this
week fell into the line that Is lust now.
from force Of circumstances, necessary
with railroads and many other business in
terests, and began to reduce the pay Of It's
employees" said well.known newspaper
man today. at has been question for
some days whether this would not come.
1t has been known TO the public, and more
especially 10 the employees Of that system,
that its net earnings for the last year were
not up to figure that would enable the
railroad company to continue payment Of
the present liberal wages, established dur
ing one Of the most prosperous periods in
the history Of the country.
EARLY In July President ingalls, took
personal charge and went to work with
desperate energy to endeavor to increase
the earnings and reduce the expenses,
without affecting the interests of the en-
ployes. Instead Of increasing the earn
ingS, however, on account OF the panic,
which caused the closing Of numerous
factories and prevented the movement Of
crops, the freight earnings average only
two-hirds OF what they were one year ago.
There is also decrease 10 passenger
earnings, excepting where affected by
worlds fair travel.
ut was known that the president of the
corporation had always been In favor OF
high wages and that salaries and pay
would not be touched unless forced by ne
cesslly. He seems not to have followed
The usual line and In some cases the plan
arranged scommendable and if there had
to be cut 1t will probably cause as little
trouble as any that could be devised. In
the first place all salaries Of $1,000 per an
mum and over are reduced 20 per cent.
This is very large cut, but persons who
draw such large salaries can afford 10 take
greater share Of hard times. Under
$4,000 and over 5000 salaries a reduction
Is made Of ~ PER cent. with a provision
that in no case shall this reduce any sala-
ry below 5000 year and that 1t shall not
affect laborers This seems 10 be very
lair and humane provision: $50 month
or 5000 year is about as low as the ordi-
nary man can live and support family
and the various lsborers who get all the
way from 81 to $3.50 per day cannot we'll
afford to stand any reduction.
"The reduction in regard to engineers,
fireman and trainmen is also arranged
differently from that made from any 9TH
or line. The men who run the passenger
trains seem to have Jared the worst; pas.
senger conductors are cut largely; passen-
ger engineers and flremen 10 per cent. /;
freight engineers and fremen about 8 per
cent; freight conductors and brakemen
trifie oyer per cent. on some divisions
and others scarcely any.
"As the whole matter seems fairly ar
ranged, keeping in view the best interests
Of the employees, it is to be hoped 1t will
be carried through without any friction.
II would be unfortunate for the men If
there should be any trouble, IL being
well-known fact that for years the presi-
dent Of the Big Four has been friendly to
labor organizations and has to large ex-
tent encouraged them on this system. II
1t should be found now that this encour-
agement In good times had only built up
organizations that would not take their
fair share Of the hard times, 1t would dis
courage all managers hereafter from look.
ing iavorably upon such organizations. -
Cincinnati Evening Posts