Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-07-18
HONEST VS. Dishonest RAILROAD

hVNGsE W. OAShoNlSoI hAlLhOAD
CoNDUcToRs,-We fully endorse the fol-
lowing taken from the Harrisburg Journal
of Monday last
"Somo years ago there was great excite.
meut produced in railroad circles here and
elsewhere, by the arrest of large number
ofrailroad conductors charged with having
! rsbbed the companies by which they we're
| employed. An investigation proved some
of these men to be guilty, while others
were shown to have been honest. Wenow
see that lately arrests have again been
made of conductors charged with defraud-
ing the companies for which they run
trains. 1t is deplorable, at all times, to be
compelled to regard any set Of men as dis
honest, and there is no spectacle so full OF
misery as that of a man working for fixed
| salary thrown from his situation because
he is dishonest. The stain thus put upon
his character pollutes his whole nature and
disgraces all related to him. But we are
firmly of the opinion that two out of every
three conductors who are tempted to steal,
would not do so if the salary paid them was
adequate to their support. There is no
class of gentlemen from whom so much is
expected, whose labors are so onerous and
so dangerous, and who secure such beggar-
ly pay, as railroad conductors. We dc not
argue because this is the fact, the conductor
! should steal to make up the difference-but
we do put it as reasonable and irrefutable
| fact, that if railroad corporation paid their
conductors salaries more in just apprecia-
! ton of their services and honorable recogni-
! ton of the ability of the men, there would
| be less stealing, if there could be any.
| Everybody knows, or at least everybody
! believes, that the great leading railroad
men of the times, are made millionaires oy
! the advantages they enjoy in their position.
! The money these men make-the towering
fortunes which they gather together, comes
out of the pockets of fstockholders-becau
! it is the earnings of the road-the fruit OF
! the risks and energy of the employees there
| of, added to the necessities and advantages
of trade, of which no individual can justly
claim the authorship. If small portion
Of these avenues was devoted to an in
crease of the salaries of subordinate en-
ployees, especially to those of conductors
and locomotive drivers, and to over-worbed
clerks at ticket offices, we would not hear
SO much about stealing in this class, and
have n contented and respectfully requited
set of men constantly in these positions.
Cut uudef the system which now prevails,
the railroad conductor and his associates
. III AtthSOi, lCCClNC J'Sp phiSlJ ouuiOiOho "
| live-enough, by strict economy and close
! financering, to make both ends meet at the
close Of month. If he loses week by
sickness, or his expenses are increased
he is at once embarrassed by debt, in
whose iron grasp he is held until he car
either starve or steal himself out. How
much Justice is there in such system-a
system which on one hand makes million
aires of one set of employees, while on the
other it impoverishes as worthy and as in
telligent class in the same employ? We
believe in strict integrity in all classes o.
employees, in the railroad president ant
director as well as the railroad ticket-sellel
and conductor. 1t is always best to bC
honest money got dishonesty, be it ir
large or small sums, is heavy load to car
ry ; it is q degradation and q shame, which
no amount of effrontcry can hide. But We
sincerely believe if there was more dlsposi
ton to dojustice to subordinate employees
of all grades, and pay men literally whose
daily duty it is TO handle large revenues
and perform important services there would
be more honest and perfect manhood in tht
world than, we regret to admit it, that by
which we are now surrounded.