The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-09-18
Railroad Conductors.

A reporter who interviewed a railroad
man learns the following incidents about
the populations Of conductors: The
peculations OF conductors are only
proven by the use Of what is technically
known as "spotters,' and the results Of
their Investigations are often as disas-
'rous 10 the conductors rs they are salts.
factory TO the directors. A few years
ago railroad in Pennsylvania was
"tested," and over S100, 900 were recov-
cred from conductors on the same, Of
which $50, 900 were from one Of the most
popular and most trusted conductors.
The company then introduced the sys-
tenn OF paying their conductors 800 a
month, and, in addition to this, setting
aside for each one $500 in stock per an-
mum on which tho dividends wero paid.
This stock the conductor could neither
transfer nor hypothecatc, but at tho end
OF o certain term OF years, II be. was hon
est and remained with the company, the
stock was made over to him. The result
was that in o test Of this road, made two
Tor three years subsequently, it was
found tho company were not losing $500
q year. . .'l s'''
OF course there Is much said aud not
q littlo written against the injustice Of
subjeoting conductors to tho operations
Of "spotters. /" On nanother road, "tcst-
ed" ut the samo tine as the one men
toned, q majority OF the conductors
were discharged. They made howl
about tho matter, said the "spotters -
were liars and thieves, and all sorts Of
tlIngs. They compared notes with
their brother. conductors on the road
which had borne the test so well, and
mot with bnt little sympathy from the
latter, who had been personally compli
mented by their president for tho excel
lent report given OF them by tho mn.
ligned." "snotters. =" Ergo, rogues kick
where honest men can restin comfort.
\ From the returns Of conductorsit is
impossible to single out the honest from
tho dishonest, and it often happens that
the trusted man is tho rogue, while the
suspected man is conscientious and cx'
not to cent. Tho men who divide the
cash fares between the company's treas
urer and their own pockets en-.
courage the payment OF cash fares on
the train in many ways, and so mny
turn in more money; than the honest
conductor receives on tho sarne run, and
still retain large percentage. 1 knew
ono caae in which q conductor put up 9
job to have the ticket agent away on {
night when whole opera troupe went
ont on his train, and from the cash re-
ceipts OF this one operation, skillfully
spread over three months reports, ac'
tually turned in more money than any
other conductor, and kept more for him
Isalf. .E ptis' .'fEn 100 5I2t9| T.
Another case, showing how o shrewd
man can circurnvent any OF the methods
introduced by the, railroads for theii
protection, was that Of q conductor run
ming out Of st. Louis, who had o little
dialogue with another. Tho latter said
he wasn't making anything since the
road had commenced using round.triE
tickets, while tue former said he was
making more than ever. How wal
thatl "Why," said he, ~ watch ou
for men at the stations who have round
trip tickets, and after they get on the
train I don't notice 'em. When they
come back I collect their tickets, and
the next time they go they think I shal
skip 'em again. So they don't buy any
ticket, and that's the time I strike 'cn
| for oauh ~ ... .s.