Bisbee daily review., 1913-12-05
LAscR ARD THE RAILROADS


 If prophet had made the assertion little more tnt decade ago that the railroads of this country ~oais 0e suppliants at the door public favor n lsl3 he wouo doubtless have been ridcued Back in those days ts affairs of the Chicago Alton. the Paches Great North ern and other lines filled the public eye with hated pic lures of arrogance and punder Things have changed since then The whirlwind is being reaped now While it is true that stocks then watercd are now demanding their share of dividends is likewise true that legi'- mate stocks and bonds are beginning to feel the en- croachments of starvation. tEra
 Fortynine railroads east of the Mississippi seek ing to raise freight rates five per cent and there is growing feeling among the public that the request is reasonable burden of evidence furnished to the Interstate Commerce Commission shows that while the roads have enjoying increased business, the re- turns from operations continually decreasing The income on the vast property investment has shrunk 14G5 per during the past fiscal as compared with 1910 In a address in Chicago Editcr Dunn of Railway Age called attention the claim of railway officials contend tile trouble is chiefly due to increase in paid labor unaccompanied by in its efficiency, but rather accompanied by decreases. MT Dunn said in part:
 What the facts? Total earnings have largely in
  money? Comparing 1911 with 1901. every dollar added gross earnings 26.s cents added net earnings be used to pay return on capital to make additions betterments, etc; 253 added to official salaries and amount paid for materials equipment fuel, etc; while ASA cents were added tc wages This shows clearly where the money has gone thereby explaining present apparent need for higher 
 
 Almost daily easier conditions of worl and higher presented. An arbitration board has just awarded conductors in the East an ad in Engineers and hreinen or all railway Of the West demanding substantial improvement in their conditions of work very large increases their wages.
 Between 1901 and 1911 average daily wage of CT gnemen increases 271: that of conductors 3Ies tha of macbinists S5G that of hromen sG1s; that c trainmen 4ist Most advances nave been made as result of arbitration under federal Iaws and award have been based chiefly the ground that there ha been rise in cost of living But increases in cos of living sufficient ground on which to base ad Tances in railway then they a sufficient groun whien to base of all other workin people But production in all industries is in creased, then prices in general increased whic must iarter cost of living and so or ad inhnitum
 There is something radically wrong in theory z wages which leads to such conclusions The trouble it assumes that should be almost entireI on needs Of those receiving them they should based not only their needs on their deser Their deserts depend their efficiency as producers an their efficiency producers depends the quantity an quality of work they do
 Tt is always most pertinent. therefore. to nquir when fairness of and pending in wage is under consideration not only whether cost of Twin has been and is rising. but also whether quantity an quality oi work done by those asng for higher wage have been and eLagins. and if so in what direction