Strike bulletin. (Clinton, Ill.) 1913-1915, 1915-04-28
CORPORATE GREED IS ARRAYED
AGAINST CAUSE Of HUMANITY
IN FIGHT ON FULL CREW LAW
Wah Granted b. nssraas Commesee Comnoa
Ra2roads Cannot Plead Poverty . Excuse for Not
Hiring Extra Man

consideration OF the rate case. using
as basis for their arguments, the
effect OF the European war upon the
railroad business OF the country.
Hearings were again held and =
partial list OF the proposed increases
OF the rates were allowed. only on the
most urgent request Of high govern.
ment officials
This decision. however was not con.
CURED In by two members OF the Com
mission. who filed q minority report
stating that the increases we're unvar.
ranted. unjust. and an unnecessary
burden upon the public. and should
not be imposed
And In effect were relieving the
railroads. by adding burdens to all
other businesses Of the country. 10 the
way OF increased rates. placing the
railroads In . favored class to the ex.
cluslon OF the public generally.
These increases netted the eastern
railroads $50. 10000 annually. The
share falling to the roads In question
Appropriated es.000.0O0 annually.
which II expended BY the companies
will buy sos steel coaches viii buy
go locomotives. or will pay for 3sS..
366 tons OF rails. or will block -signal
1900 miles Of track. or will eliminate
267 grade crossings. or will return 5
per cent on $751; 800 900.
This, to say nothing Of the increases
that have been granted for passenger
rates. which II applied would sugmene
the above figures considerably.
IL II the desire Of the public to build.
enlarge and equip the railroads With
all the latest improved mechanical d.
vices In . day. casting aside a. junk
all OF the present efficient equipment
before its condition requires renewal,
and this without any consideration Of
the rights and the protection OF The
employees and the public. thereby
adopting . policy whereby the en-
ployes and the public viii provide al
the improvements that could BE- d.
sired 10 the shortest possible time
without levying any share Of it, cost
upon the stockholders BY paying them
reasonable dividends on the capital
invested. while the railroads are graA.
ually entering into the larger sphere
- has been done In the past!
We believe that the railroads have
been advancing With Wonderful strides.
Their progrsss has bsea oct Of al
comparison with any other rai'roati
Of the world.
Whers viii Il al 80 II, h Tie m. dst
OF this Exceptionally prosperous ~.
freight rates are increased. passenger
rates are Increased. and the numbsf
Of train employees 10 reduced below
the point Of eafetyf
What more could b desired By any
capitalist In the rapid progress that 10
being made BY the railroads OF this
country today!
All large businesses are built grad.
ually. a. the needs. conditions and n.
nances viii permit. II the railroads
we're able to accomplish all Of the
achievements recorded above and
many more. what have We the hight
to expect OF them from nov on with
the increased rates to apply In this
direction?
The Full Grew Law does not require
employment without service. a. has
been stated By the companies. and the
men employed In this service do not
consider that they are fixtures or ap.
pendases to the company In their en-
ployment: on the other hand they are
self-supporting and save more TO the
companies than their wages amount
to each day. attending to . vast amount
OF detail work that has Q most vital
bearing o. the whole transportatioo
system. These details are performed
continuously. and arc considered .
part Of these mems every day routine.
no report being made OF their Opera
tons. such ~ the removing OF . brake
beam which has been discovered drag.
ging on the track caused by . WON
Ing heated journals, examining and
temporarily repairing many parts Of
the cars which become defective In
transit such ~ fastening roofing
boards OF cars that become loose and
slide out, obstructing the opposite
track. which II not detected and re.
moved or fastened cause \ serious
menace to the travelling public passing
on the adjoining track a. we'll a. en-
ployes Of all trains.
Doors Of cars are often thrown off
the track by the slack In the train In
stopping and starting. allowing them
to hang out and obstruct the other
track.
There 10 no other man on the train
TO make these inspections and protect
the lives OF the public and employees
but the one the companies seek to re-
move.
Are you. Mr. Farmer. are you. Mr..
Merchant, or Mr.. Bank President will
Ing to have the only man removed
from the crews that affords you any
degree Of protection against roofing
boards or q car door crashing through
the window when you are obliged 10
travel on the railroad and perhaps In
jure or disf1gure you or your wife or
daughter for life. II not more serious
consequences!
Since no report 10 made the officials
In all probability do not realize .
fractional part Of what the perform
ance OF this service really means TO
the company, to say nothing OF the
indispensable service In transmitting
SIGNALS when the train stops. and o.
curves and b foGU weather. - veil
. coupling and uAeoaDaiAg eASs, 0Ak-
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