The Bessemer indicator., 1894-08-25
| SOUTH PARK WAGES.
THEY MAY BE REDUCED.
Judge Haii~tt Decides that They MAY be
Cut 80 as to Allow the Road TO ray
Its Operating Expensra-


Denver, Aug. 2I.--Judge Hallctt this
morning. In the United States court,
decided that In the matter OF reducing
the wages OF the employees OF the
South Park road the receiver was au-
thorized to make the reduction II the
road could not be made to pay operat-
ING expenses
When the court convened. after
few minor motions had been made
Attorney Hodges arose TO present the
case Of the South Park employees. Inc
petition OF the employees was read
aloud and Attorney Hobson replied
with the answer os the receiver.
Mr. Hodges then made n brief state
ment explaining the position taken
by the employees. In the hearing al
Omaha" said he, the fairness OF the
compensation OF employees OF ms ROAD
was passed upon by the circuit court.
The South Park road was the branch
upon which this ruling applied, and 1t
was demonstrated that the South Park
men received less than the average
of employees on other roads, The con
dition of this road is similar TO that
of the Denver h Rio Grnndc. and tes-
timony on this point is Il matter of
record In this court. With the change
of receivers there is no material change
in the road. and hold that the dccis-
ion OF the Omaha court still holds
good"
Mr.. Hobson, In his argument, said;
''I was present in the Nebraska court
when that decision was rendered and
the judges expressly said that II the
receivers did not cast of this road they
of their own motion would do so. IL
was shown that the road did not pay
operating expenses and this has been
done"
Judge Hallett, in rendering his de
cislon. said: "Thc inquiry at the court
in Omaha was not directed 10 any par
ticular branch of the road. but II was
directed to the whole Union Pacific sys.
TEN. The Judges there said that II The
raod was not paying operating ex'
pcnses II should be cast off. referring
particularly 10 The South Park branch.
This was in effect done and the re-
ccivcrs We're directed to stop the op.
Grafton of the road. They We're not
allowed 10 continue its operation for
the reason that 1t could not pay eN.
pcuses. 1t is clear that this decision
there made is not binding on the pres
ent condition Of things. 1t became II
question whether under IL difereut
management the road could be made
TO pay
"The conditions are now very eS-
traordinary. and l don't know of n
similar condition existing in the coun-
try before 1t has come TO ii question
OF how much the receiver can get the
work done for, and whether 1t can he
made 10 pay expenses. This must
either be done or the road stopped and
every one dismissed 1t is regarded as
great misfortune that the road can
not go on otherwise than that the re-
ceiycr must pay smaller wages.
'It Is not question of n road earn.
ing large sums of money during pros
porous times and then reducing dur
ing depression. The courts have held
that where large sums of money have
been made in prosperous times this
money shall be used to pay wages dur
ing depression. think that the re.
ceivcr should be allowed to make the
reduction and see II the road can be
made 10 pay operating expenses. If
he can do more than this, the men
ought 10 be paid a fair compensation.
The reduction should be made upon
all alike, and II 1t cannot be made to
pay its expenses its operation should
be stopped. If ii cannot do this 1t is
n worthless property. and one that nc
one can do anything With"
1t was decided that conferences
| should be held between the cmploye.
and the receiver, to agree upon the
basis the reductions should he made.