The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-06-12
WHAT IL SAUCE FOL. TIL GODSI.
Is SAUCE FOR TIE GiNDER.

There is going on now before IN
Corporation Commission Of Virginia
fight for reduced freight rates In thai
state. The railroads IN that and 9TH
Ings by leaps and bounds, but the
people get no benefit in the way 81
lower freight rates.
In the hearing in Virginia. the mat
ter Of thc operating expense figures
largely. The Southern Railway
General Manager. Mr.. IL y. Spencer.
testified tina the roads operating *
penscs had increased very much.
Thereupon the attorneys representing
the railroad went fully into the wage
paid ali the employees in order 10
show tina the railroad %as paying
high wages il could stand no re-
Indeed. the railroad con
that u wages paid 10 labor
ers. engineers. Gremeu. conductors,
and other employees had 50 largely in
creased that. instead OF reducing rates,
the road was hardly able To keep soul
and body together. After much testi-
money to that effect, Hon. 4. {. BrdX-
ton. attorney for the State. brought
from Nh. Spencer the admission that
a through freight crew 81 only $2.5e
now than ten years ago, tor a
onc-hundrcd-mile run. and tina a
train of 30 tons in q "ne-hundred-
mile run now earns sac more thar
years ago. And that was com
plete answer To the claims OF
railroads have not increased the
pay of their employees much while
their earnings have doubled and
4uadruDled.
Nobody objected when the railroad
laid stress on the wages paid
to engineers ard firemen. but when
Rraxton asked the witness how
was paid to the other high up
officials, the railroad lawyer, Mr..
Thorn, almost had a lit. 1t took a
debate of more than ha!f a day be
the matter was brought to 4
Mr.. Thorn i'll the course of a
\ ISol ~ '''9 hS"iI 'iio AL 'i'
Of the rights of the corporation and
officials, said: Il will gladly lay be
your honOr the percentage paid
in salaries by the road, and it seems
to me that is sufficient. These mat
ters have always been considered of a
confidential nature by the Southern.
Tor the reasons ! have stated, and
when no legitimate can be
served, submit that the question
need not be zone into
There was no objection when the
of the men Who work was
made public, no lain hat their pay
was "of a confidential nature" but
Operating expenses" did not include
extra hish salaries, how the lawyers
squirm! But h Attorney Gen
and Mr.. BraXto held the rail
road men to the track and ELECTED
amount paid to the men on that
which showed that Nir-
spencer received 1920 q year as
general manager and the following
were paid to men under nm
General superintendent, $4,000; me-
:hanical superintendent, $500; chief
of maintenance and ways,
8, 900; assistant general manager,
IS, 900: assistant general surerintend-
ent transportation, $3.50. Now if
Braxton will go OF higher II" he
will find that other fancy salaries are
included in Operating expenses" and
people + denied just rates be
rause of e~Xtravagant salaries and eX-
management.
But the Virginia Commission has
lone we'll in declaring hat what is
uce for the goose is sauce for the
gander." That is an important step.
we are but on the threshold of the
fight for Just and fair freight and
passenger rates, and before it is
ended important reforms Will be Sc
cured in railroad management.