Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-12
WATCHING THE CLERKS.
A Detective Association To Pry Into ths
Private Habits Of Employees.
From the cAicdgo Rsass.


Private Habits Of Employees.
From the CAicdso Meas.
"The time has gone by" said Chicago
merchant, 'when business men could en-
ploy help Unfortunately or even keep
men whom they have had in position OF
trust tor wears without knowing more OF
them than acquaintance in the store or
o1lce can give. Our cOnid nee Is 30 much
alused and our pockets are 80 frequently
ln9d that We have come to feel that pro-
tscllon 10 absolutely necessary. About
the only thing we receive which gives us
a favorable opinion of man when be
app es for work is an introduction 4 ON
mul .,al friend OF letter OF recOmmenda-
uon; but the FREUD or the writer Of the
! ielter rarely knows more OF the mans
real character than we do, and the recon-
mendatio rs In reality testify only to his
| ability to do WORK. They tell us nothing
OF the mans life after business hours
whether b pas it IN q respectable and
| honorable way o. l2VOtes IL TO oriL lax
and gambling. An association IL TO De
formed for the purpose OF probing into
This thing.
"We think Of OF gauzing detective
! system for the purpose Of exercising sur
veilance over our employees. The nun Der
OF GisreputaOlS places in Chicago Is not so
large but that We can securHA pretty cor
rect idea Of a mRn'G habits without gong
to any very heavy expense. vas amen
Der OF suck u society In New York, and Il
wac Of incaloulable benefit 10 me. Al An
example OF its workings let me show you
this brief report" said the gentleman, dis
playing a ruled, partially printed blank.
IL read az follows:
"Io SUBSCRIBER 207.-The person Of
whom you inquire is about 70 years Old,
unmarried. Has been in New Ork three
years, and bears good character. Often
visits gambling houses. Drinks, but not
to excess. Lives extensively.
This young man." continued the mer-
chant, "came TO me with the very highest
recommendations. l wanted a cashier,
and should have employed him mad II not
been for the report from the protective So
ciety. You can very readily understand
why | did not wish man who frequented
gau bling houses, even though so quietly
that his friends knew nothing OF 1t, 10 han
( die NY money. Neither would | knowing
j ly employ man who drank, even III he
never did get drunk. This young follow
oDul0 nc understp nd WHY | refused his
application. Man 70 trusted employee in
! New York at that time wondered why his
! resignation was asked for or how his en-
ployer learned that he occasionally
| played faro or went out with a convivial
party
''l|ut II man is honest and faithful,
and lends strictly to his business, do
! YOU store it up against him that after
business hours he CANDLES or drinks a lit
tleW
"We most assuredly do. Among bust
ness people the sentiment against dtsst-
patton in employees is growing stronger
and stronger. The first thing we ask now
about a new man is: Does be drink or
gamble aud we purpose answering these
questions through the new society, Tx
perience has taught us that the reliable
men-those most to be trusted-are those
who abstain from whisky and cards, and
l venture the assertion that ten years
from now the drinking man will find diff
Guilty in securing any employment--muoh
less position Of responsibility. A young
man may drink and gamble IN moderation
for years and still attend to his work, but
be is sure to come TO grief, and his en-
ployers must suffer. We do not say tina
every drinking man and every gambler
shall be discharged, but We are going t
find out who OF our employees have baC
habits, and you may be sure they Will be
given no position OF trust or profit.
IL do not care to give you the names Of
any OF the members of the new assocta
tlOn Suffice TO say that there will be over
200, that they include many OF eur prinol-
| pal business men, and that enough opera
tives will be employed To keep us posted
on what we wish to know"