The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-03-12
That Railroad Bill.
The Companies Are
Circulating Coun-
ter Petitions.
BE Careful What YOu Sigr.
ana Thompson Ia Race for $3.50
side Next Thursday Eve.

The railroad companies are circula in,
a protest OF which the following is
copy. Be careful what you sign; the ide,
that wages will be cut simply because 1
few men might, mind we do not say
would, be discharged is simply ridiculou,
and the claim only goes to show tn,
straits the railro al companies are put t6
for reasons, il they can be called reasons
why they should not do the fair thing to
wards the people OF this Upper Peninsula
OF ourr:
owe. the undersigned citizens, respect
fully protest against the bill proposing q
reduction in railroad fares, because we
believe that while such REDUCTION il seem
ingly plausible on it's face, more CON-
prehensiye view Gifts results cony inces us
that il Is inimical TO the welfare of the
State, its railways, their further extern
sion, and the development OF the country.
For those who travel much, and use
mileage in a wholesale way. the railways
have provided reductions in the form of
mileage books. For those who travel
little, the present rates are reasonable;
reduction in this respect would be OF
email moment In cents per capita per
aunum to the individual, while it would
be oil great moment in its aggrega ate to
the revenues OF the railways.
THE demand for reduction OF fare
does not spring from he people. II the
people do not want il, who does?-ED1
The enlightened public that Is prrsuma-
bly, the railroad officials. the sharehold-
ers and their friends-ED] is recognizing
the fact that the railways are an invest
ment in an industrial enterprise; that the
stockholders are satisfied with reason
able but sure dividend; that the bulk OF
the receipts are exhausted in expendl-
lures for railway labor. improvements
and extensions, Calumet certainly has
not been favored with any extensions
and from all signs is not likely to be
Ed and thus the revenue through vari-
GUS ram firations again finds its way
into the pockets OF the people.
ut il well known that railroad wages
az class are higher than any other class
where large bodies OF men are employ ed.
reduction in fares must mean reduc-
ton in revenues, and consequently "A re.
duction in railroad wages. population
is small This will he answered tomorrow
in figurre-ED] economic laws are infalli-
BILE A. consequence all other labor
will be reduced proportionateiy; service
will be curtaile1; less men employed; these
will swell the ranks of tha unemployed,
competition for work will become kepner.
and conditions must flow TO a Chinese
level. To this we are unequivocally op-
posed
"We do not wish to get abroad that
the people OF this State are inimica to
invest ments being made in railways, in
dustries. o. any labor-employIng enter
prises. This IL safe State and we wish
it's general reputation maintained befor.
the world. Our population is compare
lively sparse; when it becomes dense, and
railway passenger traffic in consequence
OF such density, becomes great, it will he
time 10 consider the matter Of D. ssenger
fares, lit will be noticed this petition
does not refer TO freight charges-ED1
which ut present are reasonable enough "
The News will have an article in to-
morrow's Issue touching upon this rail-
way question, and, in the meantime,
hopes that people will, for their own
sakes, refrain from appending their names
to any such protest as the above.