The Connecticut labor news., 1923-11-17

ton n connection with the proposed rate increases of the New Haven rail road and others. I had the opportunity of attending the first two days hearing and while there, among other things, heard MT. F. A. Farnum of the New Haven, sap; "The basis on which the railroads are seeking to increase l2-trlp and commuters fares IS not the financial condition or needs of the railroads them selves" Evidently the road officials are beginning to get soft hearted, or ap- parentlv softening of the brain, they try to show that they feel very much for the people paying high rate for single trip tickets i'll comparison with the commuters. and feel very much gr1e- we'd at what they consider discrimination against these same single fare patrons, but they don't say one word about re- ducing the single tripper getting his rate reduced in the event they are able to raise the rate of the poor working men and women commuters who are Struggl- ing for meagre existence, that IS many of them working for a low rate of wa ges. General Manager Bardo of the New Haven says: "Ihe New Haven railroad hopes to end the year of 1924 with a surplus of $6,000000." So the outlook for the News Haven looks rosy
 
 he should know. President Pearson of the New Haven, says:
 Increased efficiency, further econom- ics and arger revenues from certain classes of service now rated as non- compensatory will effect financial reha- bilitation of the New York, New Ha- ven and Hartford. There will be no re- organization, which is unnecessary. and no assessments on the stock. There is no water in New Haven stock. There Is nothing to squeeze out of ii"
 Mr. Farnu1n of the New Haven says one thing President Pearson of the New Haven says another. Farnum says the increase in rates Is not asked on account of the financial condition of the road. President Pearson deliberate r. comes out and says, "'Larger rev enues> from certain classes of service will effect financial rehabilitation of the road" So that we can come to no other conclusion now as the President says SO, that the increase Is requested on purely financial grounds, and that Mr. Farnum as usual with some of the rail officials is trying to bluff the >ublic
 It is rather late i'll. the day for Presi- dent Pearson to talk about economies and efficiency on the New Haven It is similar to the story about the farmer putting the lock on his barn door after his horse had been stolen. Pearson now talks about intended economies and eff ciency after the road is destroyed com pletely financially and otherwise Pear son says: There is no water in the stock There is no water to squeeze out! Indeed I should say not, it is inn possible to squeeze water out as 1t is frozen into solid blocks of ice, but when the ,thaw comes, the funeral of New England asa Boston and Maine official said will be well on it's way R. H. Newcomb, executive assistant of the Boston and Maine railroad said: Don't imagine that the Boston and Maine rail- road is leading the pa1lbearers in the Funeral of New England" Another New England Wag said:
 No, we are aware of the fact that General Manager Bardo of the New Ha- ven IS leading 1t, and the Boston and Maine is right behind the hearse, and the corpse will soon be buried, if the present conditions on these railroads is continued much longer"
 In an effort to get the funeral over in a hurry, along comes, the Frame, Friend and Stinernan coal dealers, who 1t is said are sueing the New Haven for $3OO,OOO alleged damages. because of inefficient handling of its coal during the early period of the shoo strike.
 To help matters along also, the Com mittee of the National Association of Cotton Manufacturers, said:
 We suggest that spinners individu- ally call the attention of cotton ship pers to the routing of cotton ship ments only over the lines of these carriers capable of efficient service. We further suggest that 1t be made clear to the carriers that the prompt receipt of lint cotton at the point of manufacture in the northeast is most essential to a continuance of activity of our textile industry"
 This IS more evidence that the New Haven and other railroads are lead ing the funeral pyre of New England, as 1t IS common knowledge that the inefficient service rendered this in- dustry, has a great deal to do with the migration of the industry south.
 Here's another one in the funeral cortege, helping along the funeral The Pope Company, incorporated, of Hartford is suing the New Haven for S1oo'ooo for alleged damages by fire, caused by defective locomotives.
 The amount of money squandered by the New Haven through inefic- iency could be written here further and cover many pages, however, we will let 1t go, until the hearings for the opposition at the rate hearings this comnig week, and then we will give some of it to the public for their digestion.
 just wish to say here: That the rail officials can be very we'll com pared to the fellow that burns his own house down, and then attempts to collect the insurance. The rail and now come to the public to pay the bill. There is just one little thing in this comparison that makes a diff ference: the fellow who burns his own house and attempts to collect the insurance, is sometimes sent ito prison, but the rail officials never,