New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-29
4 oAR CONDUCTORS COMMISSIONS

now MAN WITHOUT CONSCIENCE CAN FiiL HI
POCKETS.
He had stood upon the rear platform OF lhrd-sve
horse for many years and in the aggregate hae
turned mountain Of ive-cen fares ihto the treasury
OF tte company lie had grown old. weat6eroeAsen
and gray in the service and his night shoulder wore
the bumJ that ell old conductors wear which comet
from the continuous of the right hand IN pulling
tie bell-strap. He would have continued as con-
ductor until rheumatism had stifened his joints aud
rendered him unabs to stand except in agony but
tor q CLEAN sunshine TINT dispeled the gloom Oh
poverty by the death Of q relative he came INTO the
posseasIon of a snug fortune and he surprised the
superintendent damp. chilly morning by walking
into the office and dropping bis badge upon Tie
counter rcmarkng that he hadn't any further use oi
the THIRD Avenue RAILROAD. lie rides the elevated
road now, and he blocked up the paseageway by
stretching his legs the the other evening he
unbosorDed himself To q TRIBUNE reporter.
"Could / make any money as conductor outside
Of my saaryi Ha Hal you don't expect NE 70
answer that question, I know. Pve found Out ono
thing in ti life yoong man, and that IL you've got
any one to give sway lei yourself alone. and take up
The CAUSE Of your neishbor. aIn wiling to admit
however, that U'Gn may have less pr.cks Of con;
tcieuce II ht Ia honest, and get golden crown and
harp hereafter, but he'll 90 through this life hdh
starved 10 get down 10 business. though fye yet to
look the In the face, be he either conductor
passenger who wouldn't beat railroad Il lac could 10
30 without detection No one considers THU Sealing
They look upon IL as getting square with something
no knows what, that railroads have done IN
mjure the whole human race. bright conductor
who willing to take hts chances and thoIe |" 9u'
small ohanoe Ol detection-ean make more than his
salary every day he works, aad the beauty Of It is
they all DO IT. Once Ia while you Rear soine OF tho
boys admit that they willing TO work all day and
nearly ap night In all kinds OF weather for the pit
tance railroad companies pay their employees This
Ia 81
discharge the msn at Once. lie knows better Rnil-
roads expect to be robbed and a. means 90 prevent
wholesale robbery they have thrOwu every conceivable
Safeguard around the purity OF the ctah box. But
conductors smile at bet punches ana clocks and ave
derisive laugh Tor spotters. a small amount each
trip makes beautiful total Tor the day. The only
meu who caught stealing are the brand-new
fellows They 90 at the business with too much
energy DO not the spoilers eaten on IL the tricks OF
the ttnde OF course they do. But they of no
use The old hands scent one mile OIL and Uhilc
he or she il the car the conductor Is beautiful
picture OF honesty and innocence. SpOtters
always be deteo ed from the fact that thoy try to look
uneoncefned They are more innocent than innocence
aud the eagle eye OF the on the rear platform
pick out tins natural euemy among crowded car
load.
There Is nothing mysterious in the manner Of steal
ing. conductor Ii Responsible tor the number OF
tares the Indicator regtsters Those he collects and
does not ring mp give hun his commission. II the
pssseugtr insisted upon having every faro rug up IN
his presence the printed rule OF the railroad te
he conductor would have 10 give up ea.ing porter
house steaks But what passenger notes whether
the onduotOr rings the register bell Ho pays his
fare and there his dut ends. They not spies.
and fact would rather have the conductor get the
money than the company If the passenger hears ito
bell in a while he feels that the conductor Is
dong hS duty.
Another source Of profit to the conductor 10 In
making change lie knows from observation, that
not over one halt If as many people count Their
change. so when he get II or hill OF larger
denomination from passenger, be gives back
change in small pieces VI money. IL Is hsuall, put
lnto the passengers purse without counting II { 0
passenger had looked at it would haze Leen found
from 10 TO 70 cents short This works TO a certainty
with young fellow who ia out with his sweet sart
and who dcsres TO impress her with his earelessneSS
In financial matters. II also works with fat eoplA
II the passenger linda out that the change short and
uI argues plausibly that he gave the right change
aud his lace assumes expresaion Of innocence that
only IN honest mans face could wear But II the
passenger insists that be Ii night, the conductor will
make up the difference With afr That shows utter
contempt for meanness There Is one moth that oats
into the conductors cpmmissions. 10 the people
who save up lead nicAets and quarters for him This
IA a fa, orie pastime OF women. They might get rid
OF their lead In o thousand ways bat they soom %
give Il 10 any other person thso The unsuspee ting
conductor. II conductor wants 70 ind out wba.
sontemptbls thing he can bgeom just lot him hand
back ~ upsdulteratsd piece OF Had that 2 woman
gives hin for fare He Gan feel himself wither and
fsds under her indignant slapee. - abe grabs 4
iaved She waltz for the next car snd hands opt the
ssme pieos d lead and % on. until shs geA nd Of il
foodactory arc about - fly y they MAKE then bal
E balancing thsi, cash Il night thsy always hsys
AL &xts asssptAA { E& If kan 1je-hyss