The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1899-09-09

rected by the corporations, says that the
railroads of this country employ $4,000
people and pay them $4O5, 900, 900 in wages
or about $460 per year each-wthen you
take into consider RATION THAT this sum in
c!udes those who draw 900 and less per
year as Officials, lawyers and lobbyists,
you will see that what is left for the real
workers, those who do the necessary work
of transportation, must average about 81
per day. What magnificent wages! The
total receipts of the railroads were one
anu one-fourths billions, or about $1,000
per person, whose name appeared on the
pay ROLLS Thus, you see that while the
public pays 1900 for the service of each
person employed in the railway service.
these employees get only $500 year. But
these employees are all not employed all the
year. The full years service CT only about
e10,OOO people are used in the railway SER
vice, which means that the public has to
ray to Those corporations who stand in be-
tween the workers and it nearly $1,000 a
year, while the workers (including the
high salaEies) receive only $3.50 on the av-
erage The Republic says the country
the railroads in private hands. Unbiased
assertion. 1t would have been developed
many times as rapidly had the roads been
built by the public and operated at cost.
And roads would not have been duplicated
as they have been and others needed
would have been built where there are
none. In cities it lis noticed that private
water companies will mot extend mains
only where the revenue will pay big diVi-
dends, while in cities owning their own
plants, mains are extended for future de-
msnd, just as the pos,tofnhce extends it's
service for public convenience without re-
gard to whether it will pay expenses or
rot. Railroads have been developed under
private ownership. but operated at cost,
as they would have been under. public
ownership, they would have developed the
country infinitely faster. It is the fellows
who own the roads and skin the public
and bribe its officials who make the con
trary statements, which has no basis Of
fact.
Again, in 1898. the railroads carried 504,-
106,525 passengers from whom thew re-
ceived $3.50, So, 926-or so 1-3 CENTS per ticket
railroads charged so cents a ticket, no mat
ter how long or short the ride, they would
have received the same revenue they did
from passengers. Butt who does not know
they would have sold many times the tick
cts at such rates? There is no valid ar
gLnent against the public owning and OPP
eratAng the railroads that will not apply
against the public owning the streets and
stone or dir. highways.
AS for the alleged fear Of the Republic
THAI publtc ownership would put railway
employees In the hands o. government to
become colossal nesting places for incom-
petency and political corruption and ty-
ranny,'' We would like to ask If the men
running the government are not about
half democrats and republicans, THAT such
men and means as the RepuIO.Gc has put
into power? And If they are thieves, which
is DOUBTLESS largely true, who but the Re-
public and the republican papers have
been putting such theieves in office? And
if you have been putting thieves in office,
which you assert, why should the people
take your advice; why should they take
the advice of men who support thieves
and corrupionists about anything? Do
you not argue yourself out Of court when
you admit the Officials you support are
Incompetent and politically corrupt and
tyrannous?'' The public is getting on to
the character of such self-confessed in
competents, corruptSonists and tyrants as
rhe Republic advice givers. Public owner
ship of railways is one of the certain
things Of the near future. If it were sub
united to the people to vote on 1T would
carry ten to one. But because it requires
an action of congress the lobbyists of the
railway and other corporations have al
ways been able to prevent action in the
matter.