The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-10-02

80
Total former cOst,.....,..... .............S2l %
Total present cost .......... ,,.,......... Is 81
Wage reduction. .......... .,........,Sl3 50
Per cent reduction. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 5O
Per cent force reduction. 30
There are two ways of reducing
wages. One is to reduce 'pay," and the
other is to increase the amount of work
required of an employe. This is the
"reducing" method employed on the
Rock Island and all other railroads.
So much for the train service.
The shopmen, roundhOUse force, and
section men have suffered still more.
The first mentioned are paid by the
hour and formerly worked ten hours
per day and six days per week How
is it now?
The force in each department has
been reduced, the hours have been cut
to eight and the days to five. Yet the
same amount of work is required of the
master mechanic. Is not this a Teduc-
ton in wages in more ways than one?
The section men have been reduced in
number, slightly reduced in ''pay," and
yet they must tend the same number
miles Of track. Is not this reduction?
Right here it is pertinent to call at
tention to the fact that passenger, eX-
press and freight tariffs are just as
high as before this 30 per cent reduc-
ton in wages was made. Now, the
question is, who has been benefited?
Not the men, for they now get but half
the pay for a certain amount Of work,
as formerly. Not the people, for they
pay the same tariffs as formerly. Not
the businessmen, for, owing to the 90
per cent reduction in force, they sell
but half the goods. Not the owners of
city property, for they rent but half
the houses. Not the railroad company,
for it can hardly pay the men the wages
it does and keep out of the hands Of a
receiver. This disposes of the allega-
ton that wages have not been reduced,
and little attention will be paid to
the reason for that reduction.
1t is easily answered, 1t is "the gold
standard" Why? Because it makes
money dear, all other property, includ-
ing labor, cheap, and the dollar ex-
ceedingly hard to capture.
Now, it is admitted that a scarcity Of
money causes a fall in prices. The
gold standard creates a scarcity by
ruling out of the monetary arena all
other money but gold, or money based
on gold, which is the same thing. The
The farmer who sells his products at a
close margin or, as is now the case, be-
low actual cost of production, cannot
take that trip to see the old folks in
the east. The railroad has lost that
fare. He cannot send his boy east to
attend college. The railroad has lost
that fare. He cannot buy his daughter
that new piano. The dealer has lost
that commission, the manufacturer
that sale, the mechanic that employ
ment, the railroad that freight, and the
railroad man the employment that
would have gone with it. Who was be-
nefitted?
That illustration willapply as forcibly
to every phase of life as we'll as it does
to the farmer. Low prices paralyzes
the farmer and the effect is felt in
every branch of industry from the sec
tionman to the manufacturer and rail
road capitalist.
Now as to the cost of living. Has it
been reduced? Mol The baker can
buy -four cheaper when wheat is %
cents per bushel than he could when it
was 81, but his bread still retails at five
cents per loaf; the butcher can buy
pork cheaper when hogs are two cents
per pound than he could when they
we're eight, but he Tetails the meat at
the same old price; the tailor can buy
cloth cheaper when wool is II cents
per pound than he could when it was
%, but a suit costs the same as Of yOre,
And why? Because consumption has,
in each one of these cases, fallen away,
while the expenses of maintaining the
establishments, taxes, interest, etc.,
have remained the same, and the less
ened cost of raw material represent but
the raise in the margin that must be
made in the face of a falling Off in
trade to cover expenses and return
profit for time and money invested.
This is but a true portrayal Of existing
conditions and it is asked again, who is
benefited?
The answer is: "The man who holds
the railroad company's bonds" The
lower prices go, which carries with it
also, wage reductions, lessened bust
ness profits, lessened railroad divid-
ends, and bankruptcy or privatiOn to
the farmer, makes every cent paid in
interest that much higher in value.
Show this to the gOidbug and he will
say, swell, suppose you raise prices by
an imitation Of the currency and every
thing raises, as you silyeriteS claim,
how will it benefit anyone? Conditions
sill remain the same, only on higher
plane of price"
viii they? Let US see. We must
commence at the farmer, for upon him
rests the entire sUperstFUeture Of pros
peTity. Under present conditions he
has 100 bushels of wheat to sell. He
brings it to town and gets 80 cents per
bIshei for it. His taxes are so, the
interest he owes on that binder note
he signed last year is SO. His wheat
money is gone and he goes home
penniless.
Conditions change, free silver has
raised prices to a bimetallic basis.
Silver bullion is worth S1.29 per ounce
and wheat has kept it company. The
farmer has 100 bushels of wheat to sell.
He brings it TO town and sells it at 60
cents per bushel. He pays his taxes
amounting to so. the interest on tbs
binder note is $40, leaving him a bal
ance Of $50 dollars on hand. He goes
to the grocer, buys $40 worth Of goods