New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-23
ERIE MSnANAGEMENT.

EMPLOYEES UNPAID AND DEMoRALlztD-
USURTRs AT WORK-THE BAD FAITH OF
FISK CO.
About year ago the Erie Railway Com
pany effected settlement with the strikers along the
line by promising that all employees should receive De
tween the 18th and 18Th Of each month Their wages lo
the previous MONTH These promises nave not Deen luz
1edjn single instance and payday has been deferred
month after month"; until, in many cases, the Company
owed from 60 to 90 days wages II requires more thah
100000 month pay employees on the Eastern DIVISION
alone; and this large amount being withheld from 30 to
co days after it is due causes much suffering In huheus
Of families -,
beginning at Jersey CITY, the employees paid In the
following ORDER Discharged men, engineers, nfemen'
The paymascr then proceeds TO the various stations
and pays agents, operators clerks, mechanics anu IA
trip occupies from three weeks 10 a month Thus HWll
be that the most destitute receive their wages M
Many of the labOfers improyden, aud spend tner
wages moi only before they are received before they
are earned. These men are always III ueDI 10 Inen
landlord, grocer or butcher and when the Erie Com
pany fails TO pay these the who are most DIS
ressed. haggard, squaid-looklng woman appneu noI
MANY days since 10 a jersey City grocer for pro-
Visions Int was refused because Of an Indebtedness
already incurred Her debt amounted to 81 81, While the
the disi1st i'm regard To the Erie Company and s EN-
pOyes. that tradesmen invariably refuse 70 cIeut
any person who * dependent upon that corporation for
money pay his debts. II Is therefore often very DIM
cult for Eric empOye tn obtain even the common
necessaries of life number of spectators along the
line engaged in the disreputabe business OF buying
tbot '1o linz n bceS formed Tor This pnTpose and
that il receives the encouragement OF the Erie managers
From 10 per cent month Is charged by these shy
locks. About the first of each MONTH many OF the en-
piOyGs receive vouchers for the previous months wages
These sold TO whOmsOever VIII buy. banking cor
poration in Port Jervis purchases, at discount ~
per cent from <lOOOOto $4,000 worth per month Inc
vouchers redeemed by representatives Of the Com
pany, on or about the 10th OF each month, when,
IL Is said, tho commission Is divided. Such
state OF affairs contributes largely 10
the decentralization OF the force employed
on the road and creates intense Dissatisfaction IL u
reasonable to suppose that any prudent corporation
would cdeaYOr break up this usury system, but te
Erie rather TO lend its influence TO perpetuate H.
For several years past Erie Railway clerk at Jersey
CITY has carried thriving business In lending money
10 unfortunate employees at the runous rate OF Ten per
cent for one month or less Sometimes IL happens
that the borrower requires the money for week
days only but the 10 per cent Is invariably eNaced
The cxtOrtiOnor protected by the privilege OF deduct
ING from tie pay Of empOye the full amount OF pflh
cpc and usuTy The INDECENT clerk, the destitute LABOR
cr the distressed husband of invalid wife, the pow
erty-strcben father Of dying child, and tie careworn
parent starving family al appeal 10 the eXtOruoher
Tor temporary relief, and none are refused.