Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-03-15
Insolenoe Of Railway Employees.

An article in Harper's Weekly, entitled
tricks upon Travellers" enumerating
4 variety Of impositions to which they are
subjected on railways in this free country,
has the following in regard to their treat
ment by railroad employees, to the truth
fulness Of which every one who is so un-
fortunate as to be compelled to 20 from
home can testify. There are, of course,
exceptions, but they are too few.
The insolence Of railway employees is
one Of the most painful trials passengers
are subjected to. Good Mr. Pecksnif,
who travels once year, and meets with
no untoward occurrence, says as he reads
this, III wonder what this grumbler is
talking about now; no one ever insults
me'' would suggest to Mr.. Pccksniff
that il he will travel two hundred and fifty
days in the year.. as l and many others
do, he will have some new ideas on this
head. On some roads you will meet real
ly civil conductors, who stop and answer
questions with great patience and good
nature, and give you all the information
in their power; but unfortunately these
are rare, aud in majority of instances If
you ask n conductor tho time he arrives or
leaves, he will throw you an answer over
his shoulder, moving on; taking II for
granted that as he knows oil about it ev-
cry one else does, and il is only bother
some passenger who is not entitled to con-
sidcration. "But," says Pecksnif again,
"they have TO answer the same question so
many times day II makes 'em cross"
Yes, but Is IL not their duty TO answer the
questions Of passengers relating to the af.
fairs Of travel? Yes, even if they inquire
ninety.and.nine hundred times They
should take service with that understand
ing, and the presidents aud superintend.
cnts Of the roads are responsible for these
things, by not discharging rude men from
their employ. We do not expect TO find
Lord Chesterfield "braking" on train or
selling tickets, but we do expect ordinary
ciyility and decent treatment as travellers.
Just ask baggage.man, the next time
he throws your trunk end over end out Of
n baggage. 10 be little more careful.
Say 10 him as follows:
"My friend, you will smash my trunk
all to pieces II you use II 80; handle II
with common care"
What do you think you will get for an
answer just this;
- yow soul Don't yoH come both.
erin round me, or RI serre you Tor'e than
tie trunk"
Now should any company suffer such
proiane blackguard 10 insult passengers
In this wayY They do, however, and all
over the United States there are plenty Of
them reading these lines at this moment
and laughing; as " they were written 80
cause merriment, instead Of being, as they
are, public rcbuke Of their shameful want
Of deceney.
The fact Of il is, Mr.. Editor, that Amer.
leans are the most long.suiiering aud pa
tient travellers in the world. They will
stand up for 6fty miles, or sit on a wood.
en- box while they have paid for seat,
rather than be abused for claiming what
they have paid for.
officials all over the country know full
we'll that they have conductors, baggage
masters, and brakemen on their lines
about whom complaints are made every
day. Why are they retained2 Perhaps l
am answered: "Bccause they understand
their business, and are good men for the
Company" Very we'll are there no civil
people in the world who are good for the
Company and understand their business?
Ii is very plain that you cannot lcgis.
late this matter; you can only appeal to
tho better feeling Of the controlling Off.
GERS. Mr.. would not tolerate q
rude servant in his household for an in
slant. One that insulted his guest would
be given in charge Of the police yet ev.
cry day, yes, fifty times day, on his line,
people who pay for the privilege Of riding
In his cars are abused and maltreated most
grossly without any remedy.
Instructions ought TO be posted in ev-
cry conductors room, and In every car, to
tho effect that they are required to answer
oil questions Of passengers relating to
travel la full aud satisfactory manner,
aud that any rudcness, clearly proven,
would be punished by stoppage Of pay or
discharge.
Surely this Is not unrcas enable. We
are compelled TO pay what tho companies
choose TO charge us, but are the officers
not bound by tho commonest principles Of
trade TO fulGll their contract with the pur.
chaser Of tickots2 If one OF your clerks
should insult tho President Of railroad
when ho camo TO buy paper, | think you
would bo apt to hear Of H. or II you sold
him half paper at tho price Of . whole
one, he would Indignantly demand II you
intended TO swindle himS But this same
person will look on In his ear, sec passcn.
gors standing up whom they have paid full
fare, and II he notices tho matter at all
from his own comfortable seat, look at II
rs one Of the inevitable results Of owning
a railroad, and so dismiss the matter utter.
ly. What IL wrong In one instance Is
certainly 30 In another whom a principle
IL involved.
IL this letter Ia pointed out TO railroad
president, aud he be requested TO read Il,
as II contains some wholesome truths plain.
ly told, he will reply that II he noticed all
the attacks on his corporation grumbling
or irritable passengers wrote to the news.
papers, he would have no time for any
thing else; as for honestly setting about
reformation, ondeavoring TO remove all
reasonable cause Of oomplaint-that Is a
thing not TO be thought Of
IMPROVED FARMING IN VERMoNT.-An
II l.. ta.l H.