Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1899-04-10
THE WAGE FARMERS MUST
SUFFER.
Enforr ed Reduction of a Railroads Income
is Hardship to it's Employees.

is Hardship to it's Employees.
There are hopeful indications that
a more intelligent and broad minded
understanding of the relationship
that exists between the railroads of
the country and the general public is
about to give place to the narrow and
socialistic views that have prevailed
in the past.
There is still, however. a certain
large, and to some extent influential
element in the community which is
keeping up persistent fight against
the railroads, ostensibly for the pur-
pose Of benefiting their patrons by
bringing about a reduction in what
they claim to be excessive rates of
passenger fares.
Their agitation has been carried,
III many instances, to the legislature
Of New England states; but as a rule,
they have met with little encourage
nent, 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 SO insistently agiUating this re-
duction in fares is that they do not
stop to follow out the workings of
their so called "reform' to it's logical
conclusion.
In their 'strike" against the rail-
road corporations, they may possibly
regard, with Indifference, the chance
that the success of their proposition
will endanger the stockholders; but
the fact that the thousands of men
who are earning their bread and but
ter through their connection with the
railroads may also be pecuniarily af-
fected has, apparently, never occur
ed to them.
And yet, this is precisely what is
bound to occur if railroads are to be
compelled to do business at loss, as
so many people seem determined
they shall be.
A railroad stands exactly as any
other business enterprise, with rela-
ton TO its invested capital, and the
road that cannot earn fair dividends
is not long regarded as a good bust
ness proposition. When it's margin
Of profit is materially reduced from
whatever cause, either its dividends
or the wages of it's 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
OuO lduO, WIOu Sucn d OlOW dU UuO
earning power of the railroads is at
tempted. 1t is anything but friend
ly 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 the persistent intermeddling
with the affairs Of the railroads now
in progress is very evident, and in no
way has it recently been made more
plain than in the following from the
Laurence sam, which is published in
city whose entire prosperity is de-
pendent upon the we'll being of it's
working classes:
''At each session of the great and
general court many bills are present
ed rightly termed foolish measures.
No feature Of the public convenience
is subjected to more foolish legislation
than the railroads both electric and
steam. A measure calling for the alb
clifton of grade crossings is worthy
of passage for dangerous condition
would be obviated, but bill requi r.
Ing railroads to transport rowing
shells free is senseless legislation
AT this session Of the legislatu
Dill was introduced for lower far en-