The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-04
HEAVY LOSSES I'M
MUNICIPAL. TRADING
Experiences Of English Cities Furnish An Awful
Example For America.
Socalistic Faddsts Plunge British Towns Into Whrl
pool If Extravaganza, Grating and
Disaster.

Hatton points out that this would be
true only nc the ifo OF tho various parts
OF the undertaking coincldeh with the
terms OF the borrowing, but since the life
OF tho various parts of the undertaking
Is shorter than the period the loans are
granted for. and as the corporation cnr-
not rcborrow without first rcdeeming the
outstanding loans then. when those parts
are worn out and require renewing, It will
be necessary to Nlevy q rate for the pur-
| pose
Tho life OF tramways Is. perhaps,
an extreme case. Already 1t will be
seen IN Preston that portions Of prac-
UP and rclaid, while f2,2a4 has been
expended IN repairs OF cars or equal
to some 10 per cont. OF the original
outlay It will DO readily understood
how rapidly depreciation runs to the
need of entire replacement in this
form Of undertaking. Whilo 1t is I'M
fortunate though not perhaps quite
unexpected. that at the end OF years
working there Is no provision for do
| probation except what Is covered by
the statutory contribution to the
| sinking fund.- 1t Is satisfactory to note
that tho auditors and we doubt not
tho management are fully alive to the
need of applting the profits to de-
| probation fund.
Tho principal should apply not to
tramwnys alone but to every form OF
| municipal trading. The burden of
| rates should be distributed In such
| manner that while It should fall as
easily as possible throughout the whole
1 of the redemptive period Of the loans.
| at the end of that time the local nu-
thority should be in possession Of the
property free from encumbrance and
III a proper state OF repair and work
ing utility. 2is
/ n }1rja
paid to this principal In the past. with
the result that we have corporations
| IN many parts OF the country saddled
with debts extending over long re-
demptive periods without due provi-
sion for maintaining the undertakings
out OF current profits
| In most of the English cities the
tramway employees are members OF
! unions These unions ara Just US ar
rogant as their fellows in the United
States-and municipal walking dele
gate is one OF tho choicest fruits OF
municipal Socialism.
Last year there was a street railway
strike IN Newcastle. 1t was OF tho kind
that would have been very likely to
have produced vigilance committee on
the West Coast at home. l have con-
Guided to give the readers Of The Times
| Dispatch an account of this strike as It
appeared In the Newcastle Telegraph at
the time Of Its occurrence. This con-
sentative statement Of what we would
consider highly sensational incidents is
fair specimen OF the manner in which
news Is handled by the English press:
"On November 18th the trnTnway en-
ployes OF the Newcastle corporation went
on a strike under the following cir
cumstances: When n new manager was
appointed the system, which was over
\ stated. WAS reorganized and of the ] 400
employees 400 were dismissed. Recently
q notice was issued that In order to
prevent the dismissal of fifty more men
the employees would be required to work
eleven days a fortnight In place of
twelve. Tranway Workers Union gave
notice that they would not accept the
new regulation, and that unless their
previous request for time and u half for
Sunday labor should be granted they
would go on strike on the 18th inst.
"The tramway's committee, OF whom
twenty six were present, met and de-
I, clded that II the men would withdraw
their notice q subcommittee WOULD meet
their representatives to consider the
question In dispute, and that II the men
did not agree to this resolution IRAN
way subcommittee was authorized 70 ACT
as they deemed best to carry on the
service In the present crisis The men
refused to withdraw their notice to cease
work at midnight on Friday unless the
new regulation was withdrawn. Accord
ingly efforts were made to secure out.
side men. and the manager issued q
notice that motormen and conductors
were required.
1.-THE men on strike issued leafle
appealing to all trade unionists and tht
general public to refrain from using the
cars. as there was not one man, either
driving or conducting a car, who was or
the staff yesterday.
with the aid Of inspectors and clerl
cal help some Of the cars were started
on Saturday, November 18th, but the,
were boarded by the. strikers. who tool
forcible possession. turned the passenger
out and ran the cars back to the sheds
A car was attacked with stones and thu
windows broken, and Alderman Morton
who went to the assistance OF the motor
man who was being assaulted, was him
self the victim of an assault. Early II
tho afternoon all the cars ceased run
ming"
: And on Monday the Council yielded
} to the demands Of the strikers TIL
} fifty men were not laid off; the city raj
empty cars SO as to keep NIL the mel
employed six days n week, and tho rate
payers footed the bills The new man
agcr was given to understand that
: was necessary to take care of n certain
number Of men for political reasons, an
, that the trnmways department was tn
best place for them.
r A month ago Il similar strike occurre'
{ at Halifax. For few days the city trle'
t to hold outEngainst the strikers, but 7
| no avail. private company In Bristo
Sent LEO men to Halifax to man the mum
r clpa cars. 'Thesc.' to use the languag
OF the conservative Halifax press. "wer
. roughly handled by the strikers. nun
her OF them were injured Saturday nigh
: while operating cars. and sunday they-a
. returned 10 Bristol"
/, There WIS., no nterefnrenco by tho PC
icc and on tho following Tuesday IN
!, Town Council conceded all the demand
!. OF the strikers.
!, Viewed IN the llylit nj these Gutrnge'
- tho following paragraph from ona
sidney Wcbb's reGsnt publications 10 OK
ceedngly interesting. Webb Is men
her IL tho London county Council: he
u tho acknowledged educational loader {
X the I;ngiph HoeIalHiH, just an Bill Crook
~ IN their political lshdsr.