The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-01
from st. Adams Messenger.l
THE PAY OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEERS.
Structures Of Man who Knows Whereof he
Afirms, on the Recent Unjust Order Of the
Management of the Central Vermont.

Management OF the Central vermont.
Editor Of Messenger In copy of your
last weekly issue read with much surprise
an item in the local columns, fifth page,
stating that 1.-The Central Vermont authori-
ties had cut off the pay of engineers and
firemen when awaiting orders, and hereaf-
ter would pay them only for actual service
rendered" had sincerely hoped and ex-
pected the statement would prove an erron-
eous one, but upon looking over the ADDER
tiser Of the same date find the assertion
to be only too true, that sheet, acknowl-
edged as the true echo of the managers of
the Central Vermont, virtually corroborat-
ing every word Now, Mr.. Editor, the as
sumption of such an attitude relative to the
compensation of its engineers by any rail-
road company is simply, downright imposi-
ton. OF all the men, high or low, connect
ed with the operation of the Central Yer
mont, or any other railroad, upon none
rests the same measure of continual respon-
sbility as that carried by the engineer and
upon none does the reputation of road Tor
safety, dispatch and economy so largely de.
pend as upon the efficiency and fidelity CT
this same engineer. Should the remunera-
tion for such service be stinted! But not
considering the responsibilities, dangers and
privatops which characterize, and the gen.
tTdl ltlUOItduCC w thO POoieopb -
il lust to ask a man to hold himself in
readiness to serve you at moments no.
tice, day after day, and pay him nothing
for it Were engineers paid at high rate
during the time of making their respective
trips, or for the miles run, there would
seem to be some reason in Withholding pay
while off their engines.
Such however, is not the case. The pay,
especially of engineers upon the Central
Vermont, is not so great as that of many
classes of mechanics in this country. and
less per day by far, than any other road of
its class in the United States the injus-
ticc, therefore, of such mode of compen-
saton is too apparent. And in addition TO
the fact that the Central Vermont pays less
per day than any other tirst-class 70 d,
must BE- coupled the fact that 1t exacts, gen
orally. more miles and more hours for a
days work than any other company. For
instance, the passenger engineers upon the
central division run 1913 miles every day
ior SO. IL per day. and many of the freight
engineers $50 miles for day, requiring at
least fifteen hours and often twenty to per-
form the trip. Many If these men receive
only 80 so and 50 10 and $500 per day.
After spending from three to five years in
fitting themselves I r the position, for a
compensation balc,y sufficient to live off
from, they are then kept under the stand
ard pay OF the road so called, for a tel m
of years ranging from three to five, accord
ing to the mans circumstances or ability to
get his pay advance d.
II is only a few months since red lctitn
of ten per cent. was impo'cd uno lie en-
poyees of the Central Vermont, taking
tnirty-five cents per day off from the en-
gineers their pay at that time being S3 90,
n 1ouar thpn than other
road of its class in the country. What was
the cause of that reduction? There has
been no visible falling off in the business
of the old Vt. Central and Vt. & Canada
roads, comparing year with year. But ad-
hitting there has been, submit, so far as
the remuneration is concerned, are the du-
ties of a locomotive engineer marketable
commodity, regulated by the law of supply
aud demand? l contend not. The same
stern responsibilities and cxhausting prva-
lions are ever manifest the same jeopardy
is assumed for the safety of life and prop
erty to-day as yesterday, not 10 the least
lessened by the fall of stock in the market
or any other financial condition which may
appear. Why then. in all fairness, If we
believe in rewarding merit, should not this
of the business of the road and as sale
before, more especially so if he is only to
receive compensation when in aciui | EN-
ployment? Why cannot the Central Yer
mont afford to pay as much for the SAINT
services as other roads?
The Adcertiser says the engineers ar
''worthy, sober and conscientious men.
Well, who doubts it The long and II in
terrupted service rendered by many o.
them, however, is much better proof o
their worthiness and soberness, tn
entire benefit of which the company ha
received, and of their conscientiousnesst too
judging from the meagre amount they hav'
been enabled to accumulate off from thu
compensation bestowed during these Ions
years of hardship and hazard. The sol
palaver of the advertiser seeking to justify
the act which still further wrongs these
men, is simply adding insult to injury ant
ought to be beneath the dignity and calling
of any man. To suppose that ''wcrthy
sober and conscientious men," occupying
the first positions of vital Importance in thu
running of a great rcilroad, for the sake Of
laudation or fulsome praise, simply, car
be or will be satisfied and cheerfully &C
quiesce in and conform to system of pay
which, although it requires all of thei
time, pays begrudgingly for only a part, il
presuming great deal, and giving then
little credit for good sense.
The managers of the Central Vernon
seem to think that the question of pay lies
entirely with them, and that the enginee
is not to be considered as party IN fixing
the compensation for his services. Is no
this an unwarrantable assumption of pow
er? Where is the magnanimity claimed
in the exercise of their authority
1t seems to me, Mr.. Editor, that the gen
eral public have an interest in this matter
We are all more OF less dependent upo
the engineer for our safety, as we are
travelling people, and we know, too, tina
it is true of human nature that it perform
its duties and discharges its responsibility
with promptness and fidelity in proper
ton to the NEGATIVE or reward therefor
Some may claim that such course is in
consistent, nevertheless the theory is ex
empified practically every day. There
fore, the public have right to ask tha
this man be well paid in order that we ma
feel an assurance of his constancy an
faithfulness at all times and under all Gil
cumstances. Again it is necessary to pa
the engineer just rate Of pay in order
retain the efficient men now practising tn
profession and render it an object for goo
and able men to succeed them. Other
wise the best men will seek remuners
tive business and these important place
be filed by incompetent and reckless me
and the public veal correspondingly jeoI
ardized.
If the managers of the Central Vernon
have become financially embarrassed |,
them seek some more reasonable, mol
justfable method of retrenchment tina
that of cutting OF the pay of their engil
GERS while awaiting orders, for such is n,
only great injustice but we candidly a
sure them that it will prove false econom
There are many ways of curtailing the
expenses, as there is in all of our railws
governments, which would be eminent
proper and much nearer approach ju
administration Of the trusts committed
their care. How many are there connectt
with the road, or at least are more or les
and for what? How many are there wi
receive far greater compensation than Il
engineer, and every day, whose services