The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-10
MEETING OF RAILROAD AGENTS.
A Resolution Adopted Opposing Strikes and
Pledging Protection to the Railroads.

The second annual meeting of the National
Association of Railroad Agents convened at the
Denison House yesterday morning at 10 o'clock
There are about eighty delegates present from
eighteen different States. The association,
which sprung into existence in Central City, KY,
in March, 1885, now has over eight hundred
| members. The objects of the association are to
improve the efficiency Of the service and raise the
standard Of this large body of railroad employees
by uniting for elf-protection. At the present
tine nearly all the roads in the country require
that agents shall insure them against loss by dis
honesty or carelessness by giving bond from
some guarantee company. OF which there are
now three engaged in this line of business
This is a heavy expense for agents to lear, as
majority of them work for meager salaries, and
| many of them receive only per cent. of the
receipts of their stations How to handle this
matter. and at the same time satisfy railway
managements is the problem the asso-
citation was working on yesterday after
noon and last evening. It is proposed
to organize within the order guarantee COM
pany, which will be as safe for the railroad COM
panies and at the same time largely reduce the
cost to the party giving the guarantee. The
guarantee associations now in existence are
growing rich off of the money they receive from
employees OF the railroads, yet the
for requiring the guarantee Formerly bonds
men. as for county and State officials, were re-
quired, but it was often expensive to recover
from the bondsmen any shortages of agents or
employees and for this reason they turned the
whole matter over to the guarantee associations.
In the forenoon, all the delegates not having
arrived, the time was occupied in discussing
minor matters, among other things the relation
of the association to railroads In the matter of
strikes. The following resolutions were passed:
Whereas, The past has fully demonstrated the
fact that strikes have proven detrimental to the in
terests OF the employees and employers; therefore,
be it
Resolved By the National Railroad Agents AS.
ISOLATION in convention assembled that we desire to
place ourselves In true position before the world
and reafrm declaration of principles set forth
in the last clause OF Section Article of const
tuition
Resolved That we condemn such proceedings in all
labor organizations and any other act acts which
tend to create unpleasant relations between employer
and employees.
Resolved That we as members of this association
whose principles directly opposed to strikes stand
ready at all times and under all circumstances to pro-
tect, by all lawful MEANS the interests of our en-
ployers.
In the afternoon the organization of a mutual
guarantee association was freely discussed, and
an adjournment made before the discussion end
ed. At the evening session, after an hour or
more was occupied discussing the matter. it was
turned over to committee to put in definite
form, and at midnight they were still
hard at work on the proposition j. G.
Downing, president of the association,
in his remarks said: To insure the success of a
mutual guarantee company. such as is here con-
templated, it is essential, first that it shou i'd
have the hearty sympathy and cooperative aid
of those it is designed to benefit; second, that it
should be under the direction of some one IA
miliar with the principles and details of the
guarantee business; third, that such person
should be familiar with the organization and
management of corporations and the value
of securities; fourth, that he should be a
person accustomed to fill positions of
trust, otherwise the risk is great that he
would msappropriate the money or otherwise
pervert the purpose of the organizations fifth,
that he should be person who would command
the confidence of subscribers and the public, and
more especially of the railway arrangements
Again, it is apparent at glance that everything
depends upon the management. It is expected
that the committee will be ready to report this
morning, and that the body will elect officers
this afternoon and close their session this even
ing. Officials of roads centering here have ten
dered the members of the association courtesies
which they highly appreciate.