The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1905-09-02
Trainmen Protest.


one Of the strongest articles on the
subject Of rate legislation showing
how il will effect the /, 800. 600 labor
ing men now employed by the rail
roads. that has yet appeared. has been
sent TO every logde Of the Brotherhood
of TraiLmen Of the Atchison, Topeka
a. Santa Fe Railroad by the chairman
Of the General Grievance Committee.
NJ S. Mayse.
Mr. Mayse is one OF the most prom
inent labor advocates in the Middle
West. and one Of the best known in
that branch of labor organizations
germane 10 his trade. His letter has
attracted much attention throughout
labor circles.
Following Is the communication
Proposed Regulation Of Freight
Rates by the Interstate Commerce
Commission
''The above subject has been much
discussed during the past twelve
months, by the people o. this country
and il should have peculiar attrac-
tion for the employees who are identi-
fed with the railroads Of this country.
Therefore, hope tnat this letter will
be given careful consideration by
every railroad man, especially those
identified with Santa Fe.
Rate regulation means rate reduc-
ton. because we are firmly convinced
that. if the contemplated law is pass
ed and the committee appointed mere
under fail 10 reduce the rates, the poll
tical party behind this proposition
would be forever dead. American rates
are now the lowest in the world, and
Study of the subjects will reveal the
fact that, as competition and business
have increased during the past twenty
FIVE years. the freight rate has decreas-
cd until today il Is less than 40 pen
cent Of the rate twenty five years ago.
To-day the dividends paid on the
entire capital stock are little above
/ 3is per cent, and on the actual CAPT
talization little above "a per cent.
7 This is far from exoroitant. and does
not indicate in any sense that the
rates should or could be reduced with
ont untold injury TO the greatest enter
prise in America. The above diyi-
dends are barely on par with the
rate paid on time deposits In our
banking institutions Why, then, this
clamor for freight rate reduction
We believe that proper diagnosis OF
the case will reveal that with strict
enforcement of the anti trust laws,
and the law preventing discrimination
now in force. the regulation of the
rate would adjust itself
Let us examine for a few minutes
what the relations OF the railroads ART
/ 10 the development + this country
and we may be able 10 determine
whether they are menace or benefit
20 our prosperity as "A people
THE EMPLOYMENT OF LABOR.
There are directly employed by
the railroads Of this country 800 ool
men Besides this there are employed
more than one million Of men IN th,
manufacture Of supplies and euulp
ment used by the railroads and, max
ing a reasonable estimate Of the de
pendent families, more than six mil
lion are directly dependent ON the
railroads for their livelihood
I THE DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH
During the year 1908 the peopl,
Of this country paid 10 the railroad
- 900, $40. 900 for services rendered
OF this amount the railroad compan
les paid back 10 the people for services
rendered Si. io7 as. 3s9 Of which go
$40. 500 were taxes. widely distributed
among the whole people for the use %
tine general public. The manufactur
ing interests Of this county pay NOR,
taxes than the railroads, their take
reach only the favored few who hap
pen to live In the community whert