Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-06-04
PUTS BALDWIN, RAILWAY OFF,
clAL, IN THE ANANIAS
CLASS.
SHOWS RAILWAY EARNINGS
HAVE MATERIALLY INCREASED
Candidate for Railroad Commissioners
Makes Reply to Attack by 20" Vice
observation-disclosures Caught in Crude
Attempt to Garble the Records
Other State News.
special to Tinles-Repubbiiiica1l

Special to Times-Repubiicau
keosauqua, June 4.-1n an address
here last night Clifford Thorne, candi-
date for railroad commissioner, who
was the subject of a bitter attack by
w. w. Baldwin, vice president Of the
Burlington railroad, riddles Baldwins
figures pertaining 10 railway earnings
Baldwin attempted TO refute the claims
OF Thorne, whom the railroads are op-
posing in the campaign, but Juggling
his figures, and has been caught in the
act Of deliberately trying to deceive
his fellow townsnen. Thorne said in
part:
Mr.. ". w Baldwin, the vice presi-
dent Of the Burlington Railroad Com
pany, has seen fit TO attack me in a
two and half column article in the
State Line Democrat, OF this city. The
personal comments upon me are of lit
tie or no public moment, aliho ! do
happen to be candidate for a public
office in this state, and his attack
comes within a few days of the pri-
maries. My personal fortunes, however,
are OF no consequence. But Mr. Bald
wins remarks about the net earnings
Of our railroads raises one of the
most important questions of the day.
He and his interests are entitled to a
fair hearing at the bar OF public
opinion.
This gentleman occupies one of the
highes. Official positions in one of the
greatest railroad companies in Amer
ice. We would naturally be led to give
great weight to his statements. And
this is his home town, where he was
born and raised. You know him as
friend and neighbor. you have even
greater confidence in his word than the
public al large. What ! shall say
may come as shock to you, yet what
1 shall say will be the truth.
Mr.. Baldwin states that the earnings
OF American railroads above their
operating expenses have been rapidly
decreasing during recent years. He
rejects all comparisons Of net earn
ings in bulk as unfair, because of in
creased mileage. He also claims that
the years chose were unfair. and he
selects two other years for COMPARE
son Taking the average net earnings
per mile of line as the correct criterion.
he quotes the following brief statistics
from the reports Of the interstate COM
u1erce commission:
Net income per mile OF road from
operation:
1902 .......... ....SS,0is
1908 ........ ...... ........s2,s16
If you will examine the reports of
the commission for 1905 and 1902. you
will find that Mr.. Baldwin has taken
for the year 1905 the earnings after the
taxes have been subtracted, while for
the year 1902, ne takes the earnings
before the taxes have been subtracted.
BY this subtle trick Mr.. Baldwin rep
resents the situation directly contrary
10 the truth. Such deliberate -nisrep-
reservations Of the facts as these, by
men who can not plead ignorance are
what destroys the confidence of the
public in their integrity; and these
acts will compel the public to employ
men to represent them who are equally
familiar with those intricate questions,
and men who are absolutely and I'M
qualihedly Independent of all railroad
influence Were it not for his exalted
position I would almost be tempted TO
call him a common, ordinary liar. and
not very shrewd at that, in return Tor
the beautiful bouquets he casts at my
ISSL. bUI " III liOI w 49, 40 ~~-'
win SIS an honorable man" No, VIII
give him the benefit of the doubt.
;oeIiev@. it was purely clerical error,
and we all make mistakes constantly.
Put how unfortunate at this time, and
how unfortunate that these mistakes
generally happen in favor of the con-
tentions Of the railroads!
Correcting the figures, we find that
the earnings above operating expenses
of American railroad DIS per mile of line
were:
For 1902 ...........-s o'o4e
We see here there has been distinct
increase in net earnings even between
the years chosen by Mr.. Baldwin for
comparison The increase in net earn
inzs per mile was only about $40. but
as there were over 10000 miles Of rail-
way in the United States the sum be-
comes quite tangible, the increase in
net earnings in just those six years
amounting TO over $124,000,O0O an
nually
During the past decade the increase
in net earnings of American railways
has been fabulous. Divide those years
lust given into two periods 1888 to 1898
inclusive. and 1899 to 1909 inclusive,
and you notice that the lowest amount
Of net earnings for any one of the
years in the latter period is greater
than the highest for any year during
the former period. Notice also that the
net earnings per mile Of line for 1909
were over so per cent greater than for
1893.
Mark my words, do not claim that
the proposed raises in rates are unjust.
but do claim most positively that
some of the excuses advanced for them
are absolutely without foundation. No
final conclusion should be reached I'M
s@ =