The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-03-07
the POWER OF MUTUAL AID.

From an article in the ST. Lous Jour
mai We learn that steps are being taken
iawaS.ls establishing home and hosait
al for the sick, disabled and superannu-
ated railway employees Of the United
States The home is Ia he established
soldiers home AT Washington City or the
sailors 5nug IIarbor near New. York
city. These institutions are managed by
the government, Int The funds necessary
for their maintenance are secured 10y the
voluntary payment of "a iriiling annual
Isnm by those who may need the help
and shelter of the institutions in old ace.
Tie proposed home for disabled rail
way employees is intended 10 bcueiit all
Glasses al employees Office men,
mechanics, engineers, iiremen, conduc
t0IS. brakeman, reimbursement. track
men. and all whose names appear on the
pas roll OF any railway company. There
are more men engaged in railway con
slruction and operation than in any other
branch of industry in Ibis country. II
is estimated that the payment Of l0cents
a month by every railroad emplOye in
the country would place in Il treasury TO
sustain an institution such as is indieat-
ed above M least $4,000 u montlI-say
Sis0,00O year. Or course no such sum
will be necessary to pay all the expenses
Of sEcli an institution The full expense
should not ccceed $l5Oo00 wyear- This
wonld leave balance of $330,O00 for the
relief OF widows, orphans or heirs of de-
ceased cmployes.
Il IS proposed that the general super
inicndcnt of each line shall bc a director
IN the institution This Will place the
superintendent in a position to guard the
interests of his employees and will give
the employees confidence in the manage
mcni of the institution. When railroad
empioye agrees to allow the paymaster
of his road to retain from his wages ten
cents II month he will he entitled To the
benefits of the home should he be dis
ablcd. II Il member Of the association
is taken sick or becomes disabled Il great
distance from the institution lac will he
allowed ten dollars n week while unfit
for duty or until he can reach the home
If this enterprise is properly conducted
il cannot fail of doing great good. Such
an Institution as is PROPOSED nj so small
q cost may seem impossible. But the
soldiers home at Washington, one of the
most attractive spots in the ncighborhood
of the capital city, is maintained on the
principle here indicated. The Sailors
Snug HIarbor, near New York, is kept in
existence and has been for years by col
Letting from every sailor entering that
part, what is called hospital fee of fifty
cents year. which passes through the
Custom House. The institution does
not begin To use the interest on the invest
ment. Indeed certain industries are in
corporated in the institution which go
far toward rendering il Self-sustaing. The
profit of the simple matter of basket
making for one year amounts to over
$50 900. The profit from the farm be
longing Ia the same institution is over
s. 900. The payment OF ten cents q
month-one dollar and twenty cents a
year-is so small mailer that any labor
ing man can afford to purchase home
for his old are al that rate 1t is TO be
hoped that so commendablc an enterprise
will he properly carried Ia a successful
termination.