The Wilmingtonian., 1886-02-20
What the Emnloxes Say.

sympathy with the aboring class, aud know
ing that that fact is making it popular
with the intelligent workmen of Wilmington
we beg not only to be subscribers but con!ri-
butors to the worthy cause.
Being employees of the Pennsylvania R.
II. Co., and feeling oppressed by the arro-
gance and imposition of the said Compan y
in trying to force upon US the so called
"Relief Association we would say that
persons who are not in their employ seem to
know little if anything of the imposition
and the majority of the employees are INSULT
cently posted as the circular issued by the
Co. gives but faint idea of the manage
ment.
In addition to the circular just mentioned
there is a book of 81 pages and 81 regulations
contained therein which has not been circu-
lated individually among the employees but
to fOremen and heads of department ouly.
For the benefit of those who have not seen
nor have had the opportunity to perfuse the
book referred to we will quote occasional
paragraphs from it. On page II regulation
No . (two) contains the following SIN
these regulations, unless otherwise indicated,
the titles Company" 'Board of Dire
ctors," president" Second ''Vice Presi.
dent" saud "General Manager" will be
understood as meaning the Pennsylv anla R..
r. Co., and the Board of directors, Presi-
deu5, Second Vice President and General
Manager of that Company" This paragraph
alone we think will convince an ordinary
mind that the Relief Association is nothing
m ore or less than the Pennsylvania II. r.
Co., without disguise, and also that its men,
bers are powerless to do anything without
consent of the officials thereof notwithstand-
as we fail after careful! perusal of the proceed
ing regulations to lind a sentence in favor OF
the contributors that is not supplemented
decidedly to the advantage Of the ?. r. r.
Company.
On page 10, paragraph A, is found the fol-
lowing "The Relief Fund, from which the
proposed benefits arc TO be paid, will be form
cd by contributions from employees; appro-
priations, when necessary to make up any
deficit, by the Company"
Now we are mystified by the latter part OF
the sentence just quoted unless the Com
pany consider that the mortality among
railroad men is four times as great as the
! calculation made by reliable insurance. eor,-
panies among which we may name the
Ancient Order Of United Workmen-an
order that will insure the same class of men
under fifty years Of age, whereas the Relief
Association will not accept auy who is over
forty-fve years of age. Let us compare the
principles OF the two-it will cost member
OF the Ancient Order Of United Workmen
about one dollar and fifty cents per month,
which will insure death benefit of 81, 00C
and for small additional payment. a sick
benefit Of six dollars per week. To obtain
a 81, 900 policy in the p. R. r. Relief it is
necessary to pay in six dollars per month.
| To receive the death benefit from the A. O.
U. Work men when due, it is only necessary
to surrender certificate, but in these called
''Relief' you not ouly surrender tho certil
cate but sign an agreement which will be
found on page "a closing as follows: "And
that in conside ration of the right. to benefits
conferred, hereby release all claims for
damages against said Co., which might al
any time hereafter be otherwise maintained
by, or through me-"
Is it reasonable that the P. r. Il. Co,
SHOULD, demand not only of us, but also ofoui
executors to release them from all law M
matter how carelessly our lives may be taker
by them before the money which belongi
exclusively to the Relief Fund, and wllicl
was paid III by members thereof as per regu
lations page IL above quoted? AS it is no
to be supposed that the Pennsy lvania r. R
Co, will have to contribute towards the
Fund unless it is run ON a much more rock-
less manner than other life insurances com
panies, we might add that the book of regu-
lations from which we have quoted but few
sentences is filled with polysylables and
technicalities unintelligible to an ordinary
mind.
According to the Philadelphia Times there
were 95 per sent or IS. 900 out of a possible
weeks ago. Ii this state nent can be veri
fed, is it possible that The Pennsylvania r
R. Co., are making what they claim to be
notifications for the benefit of the other |
per cent? We say no!
1T probable that they Intended to say pc
cent had become members instead of % pei
cent, an il we were to canvass apiong then
we would find men who have almost iul
their race on account of advancing years
delicate person who wOuld be Ineligible ia
regular insurance companies, or by timit
men who sub utted to the "R ,lier Scheme
in order to retain their position in the ser
vice of the Pennsylvania Rlilroad Company
N,u,s n,.,,otc,,1