The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1900-10-12
CONSOLIDATING ROADS
ASSISTS THE EMPLOYEES.
Better Chance for Rail- Dad Men
than Ever Before.
A Return 10 The Old System Of high
Freights, High Fares and Jerk
wat,r Railroads Is an I'm.
possibility.
(By William ii Baldwin, Jr., President
of the Long Island Rairoadl

of the Long lsjanu Hallfoau.i
TO appreciate the significance Of the
value OF railroad consolidation 10 the pub
| lie il is only necessary to attempt 10
| conceive Of return 70 former conditions.
The small independent railroads. With
their relatively small number Of en-
ployes, each road with its own standards
of equipment dependent upon the idiosyn-
crasies of its principal officers or direc-
tors: each road with responsibilities 10
the public as carrier only to the extent
of its own short line--all these limita
tions suggest local independence which
would permit 10 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 produces new and constant
ly growing responsibility to the public,
until finally 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 i'm
portant to the body polite to permit Of
any solution of these serious labor and
wage questions except by intelligent con-
sideration on the part Of the representa-
tives both of the management and Of the
employees.
The effect Of consolidation has brought
many good results TO the employees: An
increased ability on 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 a days work and
has made the service less dangerous. 1t
has also made the employment Of men
in the service more regular throughout
the year and thus kept together regular
force. and has developed a code Of stand
ard rules, governing the army of en-
poyes, which have dignifed their EN-
ploymcnt aud made more permanent their
positions.
The saving by consolidation is due 10
the ability 10 develop business econOm-
ically.
Conversely, the business of any trunk
line to-day could not be handled by a
series of Independent lines with varying
standards. AT the present rates which are
profitable to the larger lines With the
improved efficiency and economy of trans
portatiou. rates have constantly declined
and traffic has been continually develop
ed. With increased density of traffic,
the number OF employees has been increas
cd in proportion and has been paid a
higher wage. The improved facilities
and higher speed Of trains have made the
days work for trainman. not one hun
dred miles as ma ximum, but az a min
imunl, so that to-day, with high speed
trains, the trainman may earn in two
hours time a 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 as in past years, the ac-
tual work which the trainman can ply
sically do within reasonable hours Is
oftcntimes 100 per cent greater. The To-
engineer Of to-day may average
easily one hundred and scventy-fve miles
per day and at an increased rate of pay
over the one-bundred-pilc day OF the
past.
In railroads, more than IN any class OF
labor in this country, we have seen the
results of wise leadership on the part Of
the trade unions. Both capital and labor
aim at monopoly; the best result is oh
tanned only when intelligent counsel pre-
walls. The railroads are moving ON to-
ward greater consultations and with con-
stantly increasing benefit to their million
employees and to the public More and
more each year the arrangements Of rail
'oads acknowledge their public duties,
more and more each year the operation
II railroads is becoming governmental
junction, so that, as | See il, the best
condition will be reached when the re-
atoms between the government and the
silroads are inteligently defined. with
he management and operation left in
he hands Of private persons. The ideal
is Ia so operate the railroads
IS to approach an ideal governmental
peration and yet TO retain the ownership
n private capital.
The history OF railroad wages has
hown that the public has been willing
ways to recognize the responsibilities
Z railroad men, and has given its SYM
athy to them in their reasonable de-
hands. The employees. as rule, have
hown an intelligent understanding ~
he reasonable wage. and when they
ave not acted fairly and wisely Ehey
ave not been supported By the publi-
ave been refused their demands lbs the
ailroads and have learned that reason
lust prevail.
WM. IT. BALDWIN. JR.