Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-04-18
THE WAGE FARMERS MUST SUFFER
Enforced Reduction OF a Railroads
Income is a Hardship to Its
Employees.

| There are hopeful indications that intelli.
gent and broad. minded understanding of the rcla-
tionship that exists between the railroads OF the
country and the general public is about to give
place to the more narrow views that prevailed in
| the past.
There is STILL however, II certain large, and to
some extent influential element which lie keeping
ur persistent fight against the railroads, osten.
sibly for the purpose Of henetiting their patrons
by bringing about reduction in what they claim to
be excessive rates in passenger fares.
Their agitation has been carried, in many insan
ces 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 two sides to this and all similar qucs
tons.
The trouble with the people who are 10 insstent.
y agating this reduction in fares is that they do
not stop to follow ont the workings Of their SOCIAL
ed "rcform" to it's logical conclusion.
In their "strike" against the railroad corporations
they may possibly regard, with indifference, the
chance that the success of their proposition will en-
danger the dividends of the stock holders; but the
fact that the thousands of men who are earni X
their bread and butter through their connection
with the rail- Dads may also be pecunnry affected
has, apparently, never occurred to them.
And yet, this is precisely what is bound to occur
if railroads to be compelled to do business at
loss as 40 many people seem determined that they
shall be-
A railroad stands exactly as any other business
enterprise, with relation to its invested capital and
the road that earn fair dividends is not long
i r,nI bpa Nhopit
margin of profit is materially reduced from what.
ever cause, either it's dividends the wagcs of its
employees have got to be reduced in proportion.
1t is showing scant consideration for indus.
trious and faithful body of men, whose interests
beund up with those of every community in the
land, when such blow at the earning power of the
railroads is attempted. Il 10 anything but friend.
y act to ward these workers., aud 1t il remarkable
that this fact has not been given prominence long
before.
That their il revulsion of feeling against this
persistent intermeddling with the affairs of the
railroads nuw in progress is very evident, and in no
way has it recently been made more plain than in
the following editorial from the Lawrence Sun,
which il published in city whose entire prosperity
Is dependent upon the well.being of its working
classes:
''At each session Of the great and general court
many bills presented rightly termed foolish
measures. No feature of the public convenience il
subjected to more foolish legislation than the rail.
roads, both electric and steam measure calling
for the abolition of grade crossings Ia worthy Of
passage for dangerous condition would be obviat-
cd but billrequiring railroads ID transport row
ing shells free is scnseless legislation
At this session OF the Legislature bill has been
introduced for lower fares all railroads within %
miles of Boston. To pass such bill would be in.
jurons to "A cities and towns at the distance from
Boston is Lawrence. The fares today are low
enough and if they higher the business inter.
ests would be better served. The passengers the
railroads treated we'll regarding the fares and
any notable reduction would be felt by local store
keepers
1.-The trading people that patronze Boston can
well afford to pay existing rates. The local stores
are well supplied with goods of all varieties and
the assortment is equal to every occasion. The To-
cal business men in need of all the support pos
sible and more people should patronzc the local
men rather than 90 to Boston. II Bo-ton n
hundred miles fro Lawrence the local business in
scuger tariff between ths city and Boson is ne tber
too high too low. 1t il good medium and
should not be subjected to the dangers Of furthc,
reduction.