Strike bulletin. (Clinton, Ill.) 1913-1915, 1915-04-28

, .Sso''es HseiI iutO one SIDE represent.
Ing corporate interest. and the other
side representing the cause OF human.
lily and the welfare Of those who toll
Tor their daily bread.-lsbor generally.
The main question seems To be will
We protect mea. and surround their
daily employment with the greatest
amount OF safety possible, thereby
safeguarding the future OF the families
OF the most faithful army Of public
servants to be found anywhere In the
world. or will We sacrifice their vel
fare and that Of the public a. we'll Ia
great degree to pile up exorbitant
dividends for the capitalists, great and
small. In the country.
We recognize full well the peces.,,y
Tor guaranteeing to capital . fair re.
turn for their Investments. because
without this sufficient capital could
not be attracted to further the inter.
ests Of the great railrosd systems OF
the country and employees ~ well. BY
providing better equipment and neces.
sary improvements. But II 10 also an
undisputed fact that this has always
been done In the past, and that the
railroads are In . far better position
today to continue and enlarge upon
this policy than they have ever been
before. without the necessity for
jeopardising the safety Of the public,
the lives and limbs Of their employees
and the welfare of their families BY
reducing the number OF men on train
crews below the point OF safety.
Let ~ Tor . moment examine the
financial status Of the Pennsylvania
railroad (Which represents . fair com.
parson OF the roads In the stated and
its achievements for the period during
which this Law has been operative.
and the time Immediately before it,
passage.
In 1910 the railroad manager ap-
peared before the Interstate Commerce
Commission asking for . 10 Der cent
increase In freight Mates. arguing that
the companies were threatened with
financial difficulties that bordered
upon rsceivsrships. Bankruptcies, and
all cooceivable cahmities. That they
could not make impfovements because
OF The lack of funds. could NOT provide
the necessary equipment. nor pay div.
idends sufficient 70 attract capital.
They vers refused any incssass Al
freight rates By The lntefutaAs Con.
mercs Commission. Il being proven b.
yond the shadow Of Q doubt that the
companies we're receiving ample rove
nues to take care OF al their needs
and allow them TO EXPAND and salasss
In every direction. which has been
done since that time. ~ 10 shown BY
the following facts IN the comnsny's
own figures:
l. In 1911 the Full Crev Law va
passed. and the companies proceeded
to man their trains - provided By lav
bearing this socalled burden Of today
without curtailing expenses in any
other department.
:. They have purchased 5000 steel
passenger cars ct Q cost OF approx
mately $4,000. 900.
). They have In the last three year
equipped 253 miles Of main line with
automatic signals at . cost Of over
5000 900.
I. Have equipped the New Yorh
station. the Electric Line betveeu
Sunnyside Yard, Long Island. the Sta
ton and Manhattoa Transfer. N. J..
with an electric pneumatic interlock
ing switch and signal system 1t Q COS,
Of ei.7so.ooo.
S. Has built Q mammoth modern
fire-proof elevator 1t Philadelphia 10,
loading grain into steamships for for
eiEn ports. at . cost Of el.ll6.o00
s. Has spent during this time NOR
than Gil .0O0. 900 for the elimination oil
grade crossings.
7. Has spent $4,000 for So steel
refrigerator cars for handling mill
shipments. since November l, 1911.
3. Has built the Grand Central Sta
tion In New York City. also assisted In
building the larR Union Depot a
Washington. d. c.. at . cost Of many
million dollars.
3. In three months has spent $50.
900 on air brake experimental
10. Has granted two general waes
increases to employees.
All OF this has been accomplished
from the resources OF the Pennsyl
vania Railroad Company. without de-
priving the stockholders Of their divi
bends. and without the 10 per cent
which they represented before the In
terstate Commerce Commission must
be had In 1910. And during the last
year the number q stockholders has
increased 5000 . total increase OF
rs. 900 since 1910.
What more prosperity could be de-
sired' Can you fad anywhere In the
country . business establishment With
more striking Advancement in the
same length Of tine.
Today the railroads are prepared TO
push forward with leaps and bounds
as compared to tAedr progress In the
last four years.
In 1918 the railroads again appeared
before the interstate Commerce Com.
mission for 8 %, cent increase In
J freight and passeaser rates. which vas
efused BY the Conmiss.eH after II
had been conclusiysly prove, that the
Increases prayed for we're u warrant.
d. unjust ant ~ snnecessary burden
npoa the pshlic.
Hardly haA tAs Oemn.asioa hanAal
down NJ Gln1lAQ When the raalssaAl
AgnlA a0oeassa bseess then ~ . -
!: eco - d.