The Globe-republican., 1900-10-11
CONSOLIDATING ROADS
ASSISTS The EMPLOY
Better Chance for Rail Dad Men
than Ever Before.
A Return to the Old System of High
Freight. High Fares and Jerk
wa. Railroads Is an I'm.
possibility.
(By William II. Baldwin, Jr.. President
of the Long Island Isailroad.l

tBy William II. Baldwin, Jr.. President
of the Long Island Railroad)
To appreciate the significance ef the
value of railroad consolidation to the pub
lie, it is only necessary to attempt to
conceive of a return former conditions.
The small independent railroads, with
their relatively small number OF en-
ployes, each road with it's own standards
of equipment dependent upon the idiosyn-
crasies of its principal officers or direc-
tors: each road with responsibilities TO
the public carrier only to the extent
of its own short line-all these lipsita-
tons suggest q local Independence which
would permit the railroad the employ
ment of labor on the basis of supply"
for its small demands.
On the other hand, the gradual growth
of large systems composed of many such
small lines prod ices new and constant
ly growing responsibility to the public,
until finally a point is reached where the
law of supply and demand affects but
remotely the skilled labor necessary In
transportation service. The function per-
formed by railroads has become too inn
portant TO the body polite to permit of
any solution OF these serious labor and
wage questions. except by Intelligent con
sitieration the part of the representa-
tives both of the mana cement and of the
employees
The effect of consolidation has brought
many good results to the employees: An
increased ability the part of the rail
roads to pay higher wages; to employ
more men; an improvement in standards
Of tracks and equipment. which has re-
duced the hours for II days work and
has made the service less dan geroUs- 1t
has also made the employment of
in the service more regular throughout
the year and thus kept together regular
force, and has developed code OF stand
ard rules, governing the army OF en-
p1oyes, which have dign;fed their
| ployment aud made more permanent their
positions
The saving by consolidation is due TO
the ability to develop business econom-
ically.
Conversely, the business OF any trunk
line to-day could not be handled by
series CT Independent lincs with varying
standards. at the present rates which are
profitable to the larger lines. With the
improved efficiency and economy Of trans
portatlofs- rates have constantly declined
and traffic has been continually develop
ed. With increased density of traffic,
the number of employees has been iDcreas-
ed in proportion aud has been paid
higher wage The improved facilities
and higher speed OF trains have N de the
days work for a trainman, not one hum
dred miles maximum, but min
| iniun1, that to-day, with high speed
! trains, the t-anman may in two
/ hours time wage higher than he earn
ed in earlier days in five hours time.
! Even though the wage per mile run were
! the same to-day in past years, the ae
| tual work which the trainman ply
sically do within reasonable hours IL
oftentimes 100 per cent greater. The 10
| connective engineer Of to-day may average
easily hundred and sevcnty-five miles
per day, and at an Increased rate OF pay
over the one-hundred- mile day OF the
past.
In railroads. more than in any class Of
labor in this country, have seen the
results of wise leadership the part OF
| the trade unions Both apital and labor
| aim at monopoly: tie best result Is Oh
| tanned only when intelligent counsel pre-
walls. The railroads moving on to-
| ward greater consolid atoms and with CON
| stantly increasing benefit to their million
| employees and to the public More and
| more each year the agements of rail-
| roads acknowledge their public duties.
more and more each year the operation
| of railroads is becoming a governmental
| function. that, I if, the best
! condition. viii be reached when the re
| atoms between the government and the
the management and operation left in
| the hands of private persons The ideal
! condition is to operate the rsilToa ds
| as to approach an ideal governmental
| operation and yet to retain the ownership
| in private cap ital-
| The history of railroad wages has
| shown that the public has been willing
| always to recognize the RESPONSE bifjties
Of railroad men, and has given its SYM
pa thy TO them in their reasonable de
! mGnds- The employees, rnle, have
| shown Intelligent underst anding of
| tic rcasonabl wage, and when they
| have not acted fairly and wisely they
! have not been supported by the public.
railroads and have learned that reason
! must prevail
! WA. II. BALDWIN, JR.
New York.