The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-13

| than the same AAS
GERS at three cents mile. We lack the
nonulation. Our railroad managers know
this our Railroad Commissioners know
th;S. Judpe Clark can learn it, II he
cares to shoulder the management OF the
Soutbern or the Seaboard for little
while. | am inclined to think that he
would not talk so much about high sala-
ries. if he could try this experiment. Does
anvhodv think that railroad stock-hold-
ers directors love to pay fancy" sala-
rios to President or Nice-President, or
any other officer? They pay only what
tbev have to pay to get competent men;
and these men as nearly earn the sala-
ries they receive, as any other workers.
Ry way of comparison. how many
DAYS each year of Judge Clarks time is
given to his employer, and how many
hours per day? 1t is entirely probable
that a little calculation just here may
show that he receives fully as much
nor dav. as his talents would be worth,
in the service of any railroad. Whether
he does or not, laborer who tolls twelve
hours Il day for seyenty-hye cents, would
think him very fortunate, and would per-
hans think and say that the State is
wasting its substance in riotous living,
nslNlnE our olH1tlS ithNs
he might offer to take Judge Clarks
place for half of his salary. we all
think that the man who gets more than
we do, is over-paid.
What has Judge Clark to say about
the earnings of locomotive engineers!
They are better paid for the work they
do. than any other class of mechanics,
certainly in this State, if not throughout
the county. I'VE, the people" pay these
fancy wages, if, as he says, we pay the
officers salaries. Do not understand me
10 say that engineers receive more pay
than they are entitled to. do not think
they do. / simply use them by way or
comparison. There is no doubt, how
ever. but that their places could De NIL
ed with men of lower order OF lntelll-
sence who could perform the mechanical
duties satisfactorily, if at the cost OF
greater risk of disaster. just so, cheap
or men may be had to manage the ntrl-
cate details of our great corporations
but with the same risk
Judge Clark insists that passenger fares
and freight rates should be reduced;
he says that there is plenty of room for
further reduction. His trained mind
surely does not Jump to conclusions"
therefore. it is fair 10 assume that he
must have reached this conclusion
through patient investigation, careful
study and close figuring. 1t would be
interesting to know just what percent
age of gross income he set apart, III his
calculations to cover Bostian Bridge dis
asterS. Round House fires, damage suits,
etc And for my own satisfaction, /
would like to know how much he gives us
for clerk-hire to figure out the cost OF
carrying one passenger one mile, and the
number of pounds of coal burned per
passenger per mile, as required by the
Interstate Commission.
Judge Clark not only wants the rail-
roads to charge less, but he declares that
they should pay more taxes; cutting OFT
the stick at both ends. 1t is my honest
conviction that railroads are taxed at
more nearly their true value than any
other property in the State. Our 5000
personal property exemption will be made
to cover more value in North Carolina
this June than all the railroads in the
State are worth, basing their value ON
their earnings. This Mantle of chart
ty'' rarely hides less than a hundred dol
lars worth OF taxables. There may have
been a time when railroads escaped taxa
ton in North Carolina, but the pendulum
has certainly swung to the other extreme
now; and some of our people want them
to bear the whole burden of government.
| know very well that it has come to
be popular to curse railroads, and pop
ular also, to swear in the same breath,
that you are not eursing thenl-that you
wish them well, and want more of them.
Judge Clark declares their rates are too
high, their taxes too low, and hundreds
of us who do not know what a tie costs,
nor how long it will last, yell Amen; not
withstanding the fact that we ask just
six times as much for our trading horse
as we ''give him in" to tn list-taker at.
The trend of public opinion is distinct
ly hostile to corporations. The late
Ham Long, of Chatham county, raised
the battle cry, when, twenty years ago.
he pinned the following to pile of
cross-ties: Il.
Inspector do some pity show,
Cross not a single tie;
Your price is surely very low,
Your railroad tariff high
There is in most men, disposition to.
take every possible advantage of rail-
roads, and brag about it at that. The
question of honesty does not Apply Wnen
railroad is one Of the parties concern
ed IL your grocer's charge is too small,
your honest heart sends you back to him
to fix it; il the railroad under-charges
you by error, your honest heart hugs the
difference as just so much gained. Ii
your friend forgets to ask you for repay
ment of that $500 he loaned you, you
remind him and pay him some time or
other, but when the conductor misses
you in taking up tickets, you push yours
further down in your pocket and use it
on the next trip-and like as not, lie about
the date ON the back Of it. Most OF US
agree with the old lady who said: "They
might carry me any way-the train has
got to go, whether go or not, and there's
plenty Of ROOM" and many Of US manage
by hook or by crook, to go with them
"any way"
vNh;c .rro,y;py JicrOsitiou fn 1isrpoar1