The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-04-27
FEAR A WAGE CUT
Railroad. People Oppose Low
ering of Passenger Rates.
PROTEST TO COMMISSION
Chairman Browns Proposition to Cut
Rate from 3 to 2 Cents Per Mile
In Georgia Brings on Most
Strenuous Fight.

Railroad officials and railroad en-
ployes gathered in the Georgia senate
chamber at Atlanta Thursday to enter
their joint protest against the propo-
sit;on contained in the motion OF Chair
man J. Pope Brown to reduce the pas
senger rate in Georgia from 8 to z
cents per mile.
To the left of the senate chamber
were seated some thirty-f1ve or forty
railroad officials, including presidents,
vice president, traffic managers, gen.
eral passenger agents and assistant
general passenger agents, not to speak
OF the attorneys who were present IN
the event Of an emergency calling for
their services.
: On the other side were assembled
as many railroads employees, represen-
tatives Of numerous labor organiza-
tions, AMI represented by Colonel r.
l.. Colding Of Savannah, all gathered
with one object in view, namely, 10
convince the commission that it would
be unwise, as well as unjust and un'
fair to the railroads to make this pro-
posed reduction in the passenger 1ate.
The railroad employees came as com'
. mittees appointed under resolutions
adopted at a recent meeting held IN
Macon, from all the labor organiza'
tions which are represented In the
railroad service. These included COM
mittees from the Brotherhood Of Loco
motive Engineers, Order OF Railway
Conductors, blacksmiths, machin;sts,
telegraphers, boilermaters, railway
trainmen, carpenters and joiners,
clerks, car men and, in fact, every
branch Of the service. They felt there
was no doubt about a reduction In
their wages being one OF the first
efforts Of a reduction Of the passenger
fare Of 2 cents, hence they were there
to protest against It.
The hearing, in fact, was one-sided.
No evidence or argument Of any kind
was adduced in favor Of Chairman
Browns motion, nor did Chairman
Brown himself have anything to say
in support of it, further than was
irtimated in questions which he now
and then asked.
The hearing was opened by Chair
man Browns announcement that 1t
had been called to consider his mo-
tion to reduce the passenger fare in
Georgia to 2 cents, He read from
the protest made by one Of the roads,
part of which, he said, stated his po-
sition clearly and fairly.
This statement was to the ehect
that the chairman did not want to
cause the railroads any heavy loss'
but made his motion on the idea that
the increased travel under the 2-cent
rate would make good any loss con-
sequent upon the reduction. "This."
the protest stated, "is problematical."
'That is fairly stated" said Chair
man Brown, "and tnat is exactly the
question we are here to determine
Mr.. Brown then announced tha
meeting open, and asked If there was
any one. who wished to appear IN
favor Of the reduction.
No one responded in support OF the
motion, and Chairman Brown then
stated the commission was ready to
hear from those who wished to oppose
the reduction suggested in his mo-
ton. e@s =+@E
Thcre was a brief consultation be-
tween the railroad men, after which
Colonel Colding took the floor and
delivered lengthy argument In be-
half of the protestants.