Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-01-18
b. & 0. r. II. iNsURANCE COMPANY.
Ita Onc-Sited MutTaiity-What sSauee
for the Goose Ought 10 be Sauce for
the Male Member orthe Family.
To NE Et'ltOF y "" LtVyE"tST :

II i, known that there is an insurance
organization, purporting TO be mutual IN
lis operations, with John W. Garrett, fresl-
'ont of the b. & o. L. H., as its President.
No man who is not an emplsyc or the rslr-
road company can become insured in this
company; nor can any man over fOrty-hYe
wears Of age, who has not been in the en-
ploy of this company before he arrived at
that age and continuously since, became IN
sured
Each emplOyo of the company must be-
come insured in this mutual arrangem ent.
All who receive $50 or more per month,
are required to pay $3.50 us all initiation
fee" the first month, and $50 is deducted
from his wages each month thereafter, so
long as he is retained by. the company.
II an empIoye gets sick or disabled by
an accident occurring while in actual ser
vice OF the company, he ~ enNtled to 81
per working day, during the. term oil his
disability; and if he dies from disease, his
family or assignee, will receive 500. But
if he is accidentally killed his heirs will
receive from 81, 900 upwards.
This is all the beneyOlence there is in this
plausible scheme; but now for the other
side:
In "flush times" where there is a great
rush of work as at present, hundredS-aye
thousands-Of extra men are given employ
ment But when dull times come again.
these men are ruthlessly dismissed from
the service, ana their insurance fees are
forfeited to the company. That this IS q
large item to Mr.. CARROTS cOmpany-may
| not say filChed from the hard-earnings
Of the employeS?-can readily be
seen from the fact that the
number OF policies already issued is be-
tween twenty.six and twenty seven thouS-
and, although the corporation has been in
existence but three or four years, the
number of employees regularly in the sery-
ices Of the railroad company, during the
dull times, does not exceed between six
and seven thousand. From this statement
We must infer that some twenty thousand
employees have from time to time been dis
missed the service, since the organization
of this scheme of benerolenc- ~ VI course,
new men are constantly being employed
and all must pay tribute to this mutual
association; and all, as they are discharged,
are made to forfeit their contributions.
Iwant to call especial attention to this
provision, and to give it emphasis: No
man who has reached the age of ~ years,
although he may be as physically and men,
tally sound as any man who was
ever born, is permitted TO work for
himself and his family. Now, |
will affirm that a majority Of the
patrons of the company are over Is years
OF age Suppose all merchants and other
business men over IS years of age should
conclude to give the road Some of its own
medicines-proscribe it as il proscribes this
class-where would its revenues come frOmH
II all employers should adopt the rule
laid down by this company, viz: To employ
no man who is over As years, what would
be the result? a county intirmary on
every square mile.
was employe of this company for many
wears, and retired because Of sickness, and
after an absence and restoration to health.
l applied again for work, but had reached
my 18th year, and was irreyocably debarred
the privilege. -.
My point is This insurance should be
volun tary and not be forced on the en-.
ployes, ii it is for the benefit of the latter
An EI- EXPLoYE.