Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-05-22
TRA|NMEN POINT
To SALARIES Of
HIGHER OFFICIALS
Then Ask if 1t Was Wages Of
Employees That Was One Of
Causes Of Rock Island
Receiyership

llCtNiNNl Olllp
Setting forth the railway employees
view Of tho movement for an eight
hour day, four organizations Of train
men have prepared statement which
The La Junta, Colo, Democrat pub
lished. The trainmen charge that the
railways are publishing misleading
statements in newspapers trying to
get the sympathy of the public"
one of the railways talking points
Is that one-sixth Of the railway mile
age in the United States is in the
hands OF receivers and that, II the
eight-hour day were granted, a raise
in rates would be imperative, say the
trainmen. Continuing, their state
ment says
'ln order 20 put the matter before
Won, Ia It's right light. we will show
that 1t was not the wages paid the
men in this movement that put one
of the largest systems in the hands
OF receivers as President II. q. Nudge
claimed It was. We refer TO the Rock
Island. In 1902 Rock Island stock
was selling for more than 5000 per
share. in 1914 the stock had dropped
to 500. Evidence shows that the
earnings had steadily increased and
in 1914 were the largest in its history
Mr.. Nudge stated that the troubles
of the railwa, were In measure diNe
to increase IN wages and government
tai regulations. When asked what
wages, he mentioned clerks opera
tors, conductors and hrakemen. He
regarded the wages paid these men
~ having partially sapped the
strength Of the railway.
what Officials Got.
80 You see the company BLAMED
he men for its trouble. when their
wages would hardly provide for
family; while the officials received no
blame and drew the following
amounts: II Z. Nudge, president,
$4,000 per annum; l.. r. Force,
chairman Of the executive committee,
(one-half paid by the Frisco, re-
ceived $4,000 per annum, r. A.
Jackson, vice president and solicitor
500, 900 per annum w. +. Leeds
president Of board of directors, $32.-
600 per annum. B J.. Winchell presi-
dent, $4,000 per annum. II. t. Yoa-
kum chairman OF the executive conf
fnittee. S30,0 per annum; y. q.
Reed, chairman of board OF directors,
$32 600 per annum; G. II, Warren,
first vice president, $36, 900 per an
mum J. T.. German, first vice presi-
dent in charge of freight and passen-
rer traffic, was secretly paid $500
per annum, making his total compen-
sation s43,750 where the pay roll only
! showed $4,000 c, a. Morse, chief
engineer, received a salary Of $4,000
! per annum and secret bonus of
$4,000 the first of each year On the
retirement of X. A. Jackson he WIS
given 100000 in cash. G. n. War
rem was given by the company $780,
0nO in par value of preferred stock Of
the New Jersey company and $50, 900
In cash. there being no board authori-
Iation for the latter expenditure
"OffiCiai Given Cash
Robert Mather, vice president,
was given $4,000 in cash. George r.
/ 3oges, director and secretary Of the
boar dof directors of the railway COM
many was given $4,000 in cash when
he retired X. II. Cable received Sc
curities Of market value of S36S.300
for which he paid 100000 Robert
Mather received securities of q mar
ket value Of $f4b,012 above his pay
ment therefor.
The contributions to the officials
Of the railway company in excess of
their salaries aggregate about a mil
lion dollars
And after all these presents and
| salaries, the officials received, was 1t
/ the Increase to the clerks, operators
and trainmen that put the Rock Is
| land In the hands of the receivers?
Also the books of the company re-
veal payments aggregating S44.066 to
| The Denver Post for advertising, edi-
/ torial and news columns Is il any
wonder they can get some papers to
print any statement they may wish to
| make2
"Our argument is this and we think
our position well taken: We are
| patrons as wen az employees. Of the
railroads. We hold citizenship in our
/ respective states and are therefore a
nd as such MS assessed for all bond
/ ed Indebtedness Standing against the
state. county township or city in
which we dwell.
Road Run for Public Profit?
The railroads, legally known as
common carriers, are chartered as
quasi public service corporations. and
as such, often received financial as
sistance from the territory through
which they built frequently nearly
/ the cost of the roahed, Now ism il
fact that the roads are operated only
for private profit and their manage
ment oftmes honeycombed with
graft Example. the Alton deal the
New Haven investigation and the
Rock Island affair.
Not only are railroads charged
with graft and political corruption,
but are now trying To mislead the
people regarding the meaning Of an
eight-hour day, using their subsidized
nress and handhills and big placards
hung in public places.
The railways refer 10 a few high
| ~ paid passenger engineers and hold
them up as examples of what engi-
neers receive. This Is unfair as pas
scnger service Is not involved in this
movement What We are really de-
| handing is a higher rate of speed for
freight trains. an increase from ten
! miles per hour to twelve and one half
miles per hour Does any freight
shipper think that his cattle and hogs,
merchandise and machinery is not en-
titled 90 move at the rate of twelve
and one-half miles per hour2 What
farmer, when he starts to town II his
auto restricts his speed to twelve and
one-half miles per hour.
Computed on Dual Basis.
Train service time is computed on
a dual baslsmiles or hours-whiehey
err is the greater. That is where the
twelve and one-half miles per hour
comes in And II must be so, other