The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-12-12
Railway Conductors
Ask Restoration of Old RAILWAY
Rates Petition Gov. Swanson
Of Virginia to Use His Good OF,
fices in That Direction.

Norfolk Landmark. Dec. LIST
The following petition was forward,
last evening to Governor Swanson h., y
Z. Lee Division No. % of the Order If ~
way Conductors, representing the ra;
way lines centering at Norfolk. PorrI
month and Berkeley:
To His exceilency, Honorable Clauda
Swanson, Governor of Virginia.
We, the undersigned Committee a..
pointed by the r. Z. Division No on5 r.
of the Order of Railway Conductors ~
Portsmouth, Virginia, and Representa-,
the Conductors of all lines of railwors
ceutering at Norfolk, Porthsmoutb a1S
Berkley, Va, would respectfully reones,
and urge that you use your good Offices
and influence in having the passenger
rates of railways in the State of Virgin.
ia resorted to the schedule of rates in d.
feet prior to the first day of October
1907. when they were changed hv an
order of the Railroad Commission rbis
request is made not at the solicitation
or with the knowledge. of the RAILWAYS
but in the interest of the members Of our
organization, who will necessarily be af.
fected adversely by any reduction in the
revenues of the railways by which We are
employed, inasmuch as our compensation
and certainly any increase in wages. is
dependent absolutely upon the earning
capacity of the railways.
And for futher reason, that from our
observation and experience as railway
conductors in handling the passenger
business cf said railways, We are of the
opinion that at the present rates the rail.
WAYS of Virginia cannot earn fair and
equitable remuneration or profit upon
the cost incident to maintaining first.
class passenger service.
The majority of the undersigned tom.
mittee are employed by said railways as
passenger conductors, and in such capac-
ity necessarily come in contact with the
travelling public. From conversations
with those who are frequently passen.
gers upon our trains, We are OF the opin
ion that the majority of said passengers
are not in favor of the present reduction
in rates for the reason that the travelling
public would prefer to pay a higher rate
| for good service than a lower rate for
poor and inadequate service, and your
Committee believes that it will be impos-
sible for the railways to maintain under
present conditions the service heretofore
In conclusion, your Committee desires
to call your special attention to the fact
that the employees OF the railways are
more adversely affected by reductionin
rates than the railways themselves.
This is demonstrated by conditions at
this time existing, and the fact that the
railways are now, in order to curtail ex-
penses, relieving from service large
number of employees. This is not only
directly affecting the men thus relieved,
but also the general public in that the
money, heretofore spent by these employ
ees for the necessaries of life. 10 longer
find their way into the Golfers OF the
merchants and farmers of the State.
Your Committee also understands that
one railway now under construction. al
| most on the border line OF this State has
within the last two weeks relieved from
service over five thousand employees.
Respectfully submitted,
J. W. BARNES, Southern Ry.,
w. r. cox, S. A. L. Ry.,
| ]. E KOMEGAG "A. c. l.. Ry.,
]. w. BAYLOR, N. 4 W. Ry.,
p. b. LUKE. VIrginian Ry.,
| R. G. WADDY n. & w. Ry.,
| Commute.