Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-10-13
Paw of Central Railroad Employees.

A good deal has been mentioned OF
late regarding q rumored advance OF
wages on the Central Railroad. We
have purposely RETAINED from alluding
to this matter until we could obtain
definite and reliable information on the
subject This we were enabled to do
on yesterday. from circular recently
issued from the Presidents office of that
great corporatiOn-a copy of which was
shown US during the day-and which is
as follows;
PRESIDENTS OFFICE,
CESrRAL RAILROAD AND BASKIsG Co. FGA-.
SAvASSAH, GA, October eth, 1881.
CIRCULAR NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES.
Several petitions having been received from
he employees of the company. addressed %
the Board Of Directors. and Others 70 the Off
Gers Of the road, asking that an advance be
made in the rate Of their compensation, the
board hiss taken Up the subject and have gwen
it . patient and thorough consideration Nnhe
the board cannot hope 70 meet the expectation
Of all the petitioners, they deem IL du@ that an
answer should be made informing them OF me
con lusIOns arrived It. While II may De true
as alleged. that the advance IN PROVISIONS aiid
rents have increased the cost OF nFlng- II L
also true that the board must be con rolle1 70
a great extent in fixing the rate Of pay by the
SInulv and demand for the labor IN the various
,I'-Ir Investigation develops the fact that the
average pay Of the men 10 the several depart
ments Of this company, with the exception OF
the lAbnrers Of the roadway department, Is
above the average rate paid by roads IN this aud
adjoining States: and while this Is the case they
feel that they are doing their employees no in
Justice II Is a fact. however. that the recent
increased demand in the country for certain
-f- ID Of lad lab
nOp0lized the supply, and TO those the com
pany proposed TO m Ike an advance common
surate with the necessity
Il IS the opinion OF the board that the indi
vid1al merits and dement's Of employees in the
same character Of service has not heretofore
been sufficiently recognized BY difference in he
pay. and IT is proposed to establish more
grades with difference In grade, and look 70
the heads Of departments TO take into more
careful consideration the individual merits OF
their employees. thus adjusting the rate paid
m0re fsir ' TO he value OF their services TO the
company.
its proper here to state, that whatever ad
vance is made. will be solely on the grounds Of
the increased demand for that particular class
u labor. and by no means under the supposi-
ton that the earnings Of the company Tor the
coming year are promising any Justincstlon
for an Increase Of expenses; on the contrary,
il is the deliberate opinion Of the board, that
we're il a question that could be settled upon
principle OF equity between stockholders and
employees, instead Of upon the principle OF SuO-
ply and demand, the rates now paid could not be
advanced; and il is also proper 70 state that
the board fear the decrease in the revenues OF
the road and ths decreased demand Cor labor
OF all kinds will, in the near future, neceSsitate
8 reduction. While IL is to be hoped that this
will not be the case, the board cannot in view
OF the low scale OF rates forced upon the COM
pany by the Railroad Commission on all their
local business. and the constantly decreasing
rates on all through business at which the
company is obliged 70 work in competition
uvff
results.
By order OF the board.
WIZ. NJ. WADLEY, President.
It will be seen from the above that the
directors have decided to move cautious
ly in this matter. They desire to do the
very best possible by their employees,
and give substantial proof of their de-
termination. At the same time with
the conservatism and wise caution which
has ever characterized the management
of the corporatlon) it will be seen that
whatever advance is made is to be based
on merit alone, thus giving to each man
employed a compensation to which time
and experience have shown him to be
entitled. And further, to guard against
any disappointment in the future, the
board. very properly, gives notice that
the low scale Of rates forced upon the
company by the present unjust Railroad
Commission law of Georgia may so re-
duce the receipts of the company during
the coming year that whatever advance
granted now may, perhaps, not be able
to be maintained.
We feel satisfied that this action of
the board will meet with universal com
mendation. The employees benefited
will feel that they have been dealt with
in strict justice, and the public interest
ed directly in Georgia's great highway
have renewed assurance that their inter
ests are in wise and capable hands.