The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1899-04-14
The Wage Farmers Must Suffer.
Enforced Reduction of a Railroads In.
come is a Hardship to it's Employees.

Enforced Reduction of a Railroads In
come is a Hardship to its Employees.
There are hopeful indications that
more intelligent and broad-minded under
standing of the relationship that exists
| between the railroads of the country and
the general public is about to give place
| to the more narrow and SOcialistic views
that have prevailed in the past.
Ihere Is still, however, certain large,
and to some extent influential element in
the community which is keeping up per-
slstent fight against the railroads, osten-
| slbly Tor the purpose of benefiting their
patrons by bringing about reduction in
what they claim to be excessive rates of
| passenger fare.
Their agitation has been carried, in
many Instances, to the legislatures of New
England states; but, as rule, they have
met with little encouragement, since the
| average legislator, whatever his other
faults may be, has business sense enough
to realize that there are two sides to this
and all similar questions.
The trouble with the people who are 80
fares is that they do not stop to follow out
the workings of their socalled reform"
to its logical conclusion.
In their strike" against the railroad
corporations, they may possibly regard,
with indifference, the chance that the
success of their proposition will endanger
| the dividends of the stockholders; but the
fact that the thousands of men who are
| earning their bread and butter through
their connection with the railroads may
also be peculiarly affected has, apparent
| ly, never occurred to them.
l. And yet. this is precisely what is bound
to occur if railroads are TO be compelled
to do business at a loss, as so many people
seem determined they shall be.
A railroad stands exactly as any other
business enterprise, with relation to its
invested capital, and theEoad that cannot
earn fair dividends is not long regarded
as good business p OPPOSITION. When its
margin of profit is materially reduced
from whatever cause, either its dividends
or the wages of its employees have got to
be reduced in proportion.
1t is showing Scant consideration for an
industrious and faithful body of men,
whose interests are bound up with those
of every community in the land, when
such blow at the earning power of the
a friendly act toward these workers, and
it is remarkable that this fact has not
been given prominence long before.
That there is revulsion of feeling
against this persistent intermeddling with
the affairs of the railroads now in pro-
greSs is very evident, and in no way has
1t recently been made more plain than in
the following editorial from the Lawrence
Sun, which is published in a city whose
entire prosperity is dependent upon the
well-being of its working classes:
" AT each session of the great and gen
eral court many bills are presented right
ly termed foolish measures. No feature
of the public convenience is subjected to
more foolish legislation than the railroads
both electric and steam. A measure call
ing for the abolition of grade crossings is
worthy of passage for dangerous condi-
ton would be obviated, but bill requir-
ing railroads to transport rowing shells
free is senSeless legislation.
AT this season of the legislature bill
has been introduced for lower fares on all
railroads within twenty-five miles of Bos-
ton. 10 pass such bill would be inju-
rious to all cities and towns at the dis
lance from Boston as is Lawrence. The
fares to-day are low enough and if they
were higher the business interts SITS would
be better served. The passengers on the
railroads are treated we'll regarding the
fares, and any notable reduction would
be felt by local storekeeperS.
The trading pub &c that patroniZe Bos-
ton can well afford to pay existing rates.
The locaI stores are well supplied with
goods of all varieties and the assortment
is equal to every occasion. The local bus
mess men are in need of all the support
possib and more Peep should patronize
the local men rather than go to Boston.
If Boston was hundred mi es away from
Lawrence the local business interests
won be better served. The pres emit
passenger tariff between this city and
Boston is neither too high nor too low. 1t
is good medium and shouG not be sub
jected TO the dangers of further reduo-
tion -