The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-10
4 Matter worthy Of Consideration.

Matter Worthy Of Consideration.
A railroad man asks why is it the better class
of railroad men do not purchase homes and
cease paying enormous rents, which they are,
usually obliged to pay at wideawake railroad
townsln Investigation would doubtless show
that the uncertainty of railroad positions had
much to do with the matter. He has doubts
whether an investment on the monthly payment
plan would be advisable, and this way of pur-
chasing homes is the only way open to the Or
binary man engaged in that business, As a
rule. when changes IN official departments
affect all others under such officers and as
changes are of great frequency of late years the
person who expects to follow the ups and downs
of such life usually keeps his affairs in such
shape as to leave, when forced so to do, on the
shortest possible notice. We maintain that
there is something radically wrong about all
this, and refer to the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company as an example worthy of more follow
ers Employees Of that company are left und Us
furbed while their behavior and service to the
company is all that is required, and feeling per-
fectly at home, so to speak, are as rule
the possessors of homes of their own and snug
little sums laid by for the future. If any one
thing would Insure better service to the rail-
road company it would be the assurance that SO
long as the employee faithfully performed his
duties toward the company he would be undis7
turbed Beyond doubt such assurance would
have the proper tendency to make the employee
feel safe in endeavoring to secure home for his
family, and surely the man who is settled down
makes more efficient and sober employe than
he who owns nothing and has no family to look
after the wants of. 1t would be wise were the
railway directors at their annual meetings, to
give this matter their attention, and adopt some
measure that will do away with favoritism and
insure some protection for the old and tried EN-
pIoye after official changes are made.
A Good Word in Behalf of the baggage
Smasher.
In commenting upon an article which APP
peared recently in the Journal regarding the
enactment of law by the New York Legisla-
ture to prevent baggage-smashers carrying on
their work upon so large scale, the Boston AID.
vertiser aptly says: This is all very WELL but
there is another side that people ought not to
lose sight Of. The growth of trunks has been
greater, relatively, than almost any other growth
IN this rapidly developing country. They are
often too heavy for two strong men to handle
with ease or safety, and when, as often happens,
they must be moved by only one man and with
the utmost celebrity during the short stop of the
tram, the baggage fend is more sinned against
than SHINING, and he is entitled to the sympathy
and protection of the public. There ought to be
law that piece Of baggage shall weigh more
than a certain number of pounds-whatever
weight an average man can lift with safety to
his health and to the baggage. In that case,
those who require very bulky packages would
make them of light and flexible material Rail
road companies can regulate this if they will
agree upon 1t, and more in the interest Of hui
manity than of property, they ought to try"
a Little Friction Still Between the c., III 8
!. and the Union Railway Company.
Il. +. Stiles, agent of the c., h & l. at this
point, yesterday rendered W. p Ijams, auditor
and treasurer of the Union Railway Company.
$500, which has been their monthly rental for
some years, until the new method of paving the
expenses Of operating the Union railway, Union
Depot and Belt road went into ef-
feet Mr. Ijams declined taking it, stating
that the new method Of paying on the wheelaee
basis makes their share Of the expense 1910 1t
should be borne in mind that business of the
", H. 4 1: at this point has largely increased Of
late as Is shown by the per cents. of business
forwarded in the eastbound pool, and
their west bound business has increased pro-
portionately. Had their business not so in.
creased paying on the wheelage basis would
have reduced the cost Of their Terminal facili-
tles at indianapolis While not inclined to take
sides in the matter, it seems that paving oDeraf-
ing expenses and maintaining the property could
not be fixed on fairer basis than that the
Union Railway Company is now working under
each road paying IN proportion to the business it
Placing the Expense where 1t BELONGS.
4 w. p Jams, auditor and secretary of the Belt
Road and Union Railway Company, has prepared
comparative statement of the cost to tho
prospective roads OF doing business in the month
of June over the Belt road and Union tracks.
paying on tho wheelage basis with that Of the