The record-union., 1895-10-21

! OF wages. They must look the matter
squarely in the face. What did LaRue
and Stanton mean7 He cared not whether
the pledge was made coolly or in the
heat of politics. The result was the same.
in either case. Every one knows that
when an individual, firm or corporation
wants to rstrench, the first step taken Is
either in the reduction of the force or In
the payroll, for the reason that the fixed
expenses cannot be cut down. he
doubted If either OF the Commissioners
voting for the reduction had any convic-
tons. One was a politician looking for
ward to being elected Governor, the other
was backed by dsmagogues, who wished
to cut the rates. no matter at what cost.
What did Stanton do when asked to
( wait and examine further into the mat
ter? Did he act like q Judge? Ne! He
said he was ready to render his opinion
now. The Supreme Court always takes
time to settle important questions. He
would give LaRue credit for voting with
Clark to lay the matter over for few
days. This was Stanton's position. If
he was catering only to the wishes of the
party that placed him in power, it was time
to say to him. I'VE want justice, and only
Justice" Ali the railroad company asks
is justice. 1t says if an equitable reduc-
ton will benefit the people, after exam
ination of the whole case, do it, but do
not destroy the work of the master minds
that built the road and made the State
prosperous.
The company employs $1,000 men In
this State, and S.. 800, 900 Is paid to them
yearly. If the rates are cut down % per
cent, he would ask where cut would
cent of the operating expenses of the
road is paid TO labor. LaRue has said
that the cost Of material helped to make
that go per cent, but it has been shown
that it does not. If the reduction of rates
goes into effect, wages must be out to
meet 1t. The fixed expenses are 20 per
cent for fuel, and 20 per cent for Incl
dental expenses. material, etc. These
must be met, and cannot be out down.
An engine requires twelve tons OF coal
with which to pull train to Red Bluff.
How far would 1t go If the engineer were
told ''We will only allow you nine tons
to go there within 2"
Nor can the other 20 per cent. be cut
down, as every cent Of it is needed to
keep the road In good and safe condition.
That makes 10 per cent. for fixed ex-
penses, which cannot be reduced. If the
% per cent. reduction is made, 1t must
come, then, out OF the wages of labor.
There is no way of avoiding it. as there
is nowhere else for il to come from. The
wages paid in the shops will be the
basis paid for labor all over the State.
And who will be benefited L? Not the
laboring man, for he will get less wages
than before. The merchants say it will
not benefit them one particle, but will
damage them. The yearly payroll oil
the shops here is 81, 1000 This money
is put into circulation each month, and
the merchants and farmers get 1t in ex-
change for their commodities. If the re-
duction in rates is made. the man who
formerly came with 500 in his pocket to
purchase goods will then come with S75.
and the merchant and the farmer will
wish they had never heard of Is per
cent. reduction.
The Commissioners evidently do not
take into consideration the character OF
the country through which the railroad
runs. West of Los Angeles, across the
Mojave Desert, stretches an expanse OIL
country that is practically valueless. If the
company could collect all the cactus and
sagebrush and jack rabbits in it, it would
| be worthless as freight or an income pro-
ducer. So. too, on the desert in Nevada.
| ho yryt ho ha tyoi
! deserts get just as much pay as if there
were stations every few miles, although
the company would starve II 1t depended
on that country for its income
The Railroad Commission asks the
company to haul freights as cheaply over
these deserts as the Pennsylvania Central
does over its line, with villages along the
road every few miles, which furnish q
large amount of passengers and freight.
He would present a few figures for the
consideration of the employees. The
average wages of railroad employees in
Iowa are 81 70 day; in Illinois they are
81 80 q day.
"Do you want to change conditions
with them?" he asked.
In Chicago the returns last year showed
there were 200 men in the shops of the
railroads. In Altoona, Pa, thore were
| 1900. In the shops here there were LOO.
! The railroad men of California received
| 40 per cent. more than those of Chicago
| In Altoona the men receive an average OF
| l64 cents an hour. The Sacramento men
average 264 cents an hour-lO cents an hour
more. If we have to get down to the
| ~
the greatest wage revolutions ever seen
| in the country. All little luxuries will
vanish like dream, for no man here can
live on Chicago or Altoona wages.
We must ask the Commissioners to
pause and see if the reduction can be
made with justice to the raiload company
aud to the aud to the laborers, he said.
| We must impress them with the idea
that it is better to feel their way very
carefully before taking this step.
The Santa Fe road. he said, was In the
| hands OF receiver. The road had great
power, but when it came into the hands
! of the United States receiver it was dis
covered that on account of the California
wage rate the Santa Fe had TO esta blish
an Eastern wage rate and California
wage rate. The average wage rate at the
! Eastern end was 81 20: at Los Angeles it
was 81 30. These were facts, and he
challenged LaRue or Stanton to deny
them. Why was this SO? 1t was because
the Southern Pacific Company paid fair
living wages to their employees and the
Santa Fe Company did not dare 10 cut be-
low this, and therefore had two schedules.
In San Bernardino there are two parallel