Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-12-21
H[ WIS |NCDNP[IEF
Real Responsibility For Col :
ion at Adel Laid on Hia
Officials Than Operator
THE TERRIBLE MERGER BLIGHT
In Order to Reduce Expenses Old and
Experienced Men Are Replaced by
Those Not So Experienced and Often
incompetent, But Who Are Willing
to Work for the Reduced Wages.

Des Moines. Dec. 21.-The investga-
ton into the railroad collision near
Adel. twenty miles west of Des Moine>
In which three tranmen lost their lives
and three big engines were smashed
under two trains of freight cars
brought out the fact that the operator
at Give was primarily responsible be-
cause Of his failure to deliver the orders
properly. but that secondarily the high
er officials of the company were TO
blame in that they had employed and
retained in responsible position one
known by them to be incompetent.
The laundering operator did not know
how to take and deliver the train or
ders. In his behalf 1t is stated that he
had only a few months experience as
an operator, that ne had worked for a
short time for nothing at station IN
northern Iowa to learn the business and
almost Immediately afterwards Was
given 4 responsible place at Il junction
point and this without examination as
to his fitness. There is Indignation
over the affair and feeling that some
where along the line there is weak
ness in the l. ailroad system which re-
sorts 10 such methods to do business
at the eypenss. of the lives of those Who
travel The real responsibility for
this STATE of affairs" said a railroad
official today. lies higher up. At least
some of the terrible fatalities of the
present winter might properly be called
merger murders. The cause can be
traced back directly to the avarice of
men who want to make immense for
tunes out OF the highways of the ma
ton. Two or three merger promoters
plan great financial coup and gain
control OF series of lines. Millions
in stock is issued without benefit 10
the railroad systems Dividends must
be paid. The demand goes from the
holders of the stock .ha, the balsEces
must be so and so. The managerial
officials pass the demand along to the
operating department Business s
sought in every channel. But that is
not sufficient. Expenses must be re-
duced Repairs are neglected, equip
ment is not fully maintained, shop
forces are reduced. bridge and sec
tlON IHtll dIe ltt Jul, anu NOISe lIlu!I
all else wages are cut. The result is
that In a short time old and experienced
men are replaced by those who are
not so experienced and who are willing
TO work for the reduced wages. The
whole efficiency of the operation of the
railroads is impaired by reason of the
demand on the part of merger man
ayers that dividends shall be paid on
watered stock. The superintendent
and managers and train masters AMI
master mechanics are helpless. They
realize what is being done. but dare
not protest else they will lose their
places. And the evil effect Is not On
the systems that are directly in the
mergers but also on other systems that
must compete with them. The railroa
business is affected with the merger
blight
Iowa is greatly interested in the Isle
Of Pines and the controversy as to
whether or not the island shall be
yielded ito Cuba. 1t is not generally
known. but is a fact, that American
colonists now own moro than half of
the island, have established town and
a postofice and are investing large
sums. and that a larger number OF
Iowans are of the American colony
than residents of any other state A
number of excursion parties have been
sent to the Isle of Pines from Iowa and
a number 1f companies formed to
handle land or engage in other busi-
ress on the island. The American
Land Company was formed at Fairfield
last winter, and number of Fairfield
people are Interested Then there is
quite a colony from nea. Spencer. and
others from Creston ana Ottumwa. 1t
is said there are forty or fifty families
from Iowa now interested in the island.
Almacigos Springs is a winter bathing
resor, started by Iowa people. and the
town of Columbia is thoroughly Amer
lean. with postoffice established by
GAnera Wood. Several months ago
these Iowa people and other Ameri-
cans. representing a colony of between
400 and 500. sent a protest and petit
ton to President Roosevelt in which
they asked that the present misgovern-
ment of the island be abolished and
that the government be organized by
rha Unitef States. There are about
S,UOu persons on the lSidHu anu II IS
attached for administrative purposes
To the province of Havana. A resident
alcalde. clerk and policemen represent
the government. Ii there are deeds to
be made or recorded a trip must be
made to town in Cuba. and then ex-
orbitant fees are exacted for small
services. The colanists represented
also that the belief is current on the
island that If Cuba secures he dsland
part Will be used as a convict colony,
as it had been under Spain at one time,
and the remainder for q leper colony.
If this should happen the property pur-
chased by Iowa people would not be
worth n,mth. The Iowa senators are to
be interested in the protest against
ratification of the treaty of cession TO
Cuba which Is pending in the senate.
A plain statement in this correspon-
denee with .egard to the view enter
tained here n Des Moines With regard
to the possibility of unfairness In dis
posing of the Spoor trophy of the In