The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-30
SYSTEMS OF "cHscKAee."
10. Howard Thinks They Are n Nuisance
PoIiy, Of Honesty.

the universal suspicion which poisons
every brother s cup? Why these checks
in street cars. these mechanical contriv-
ances in harrooms, these private detect
i've agencies? You remember what q
I hubbub was created wears ago when con-
ductors were compelled TO wear massise
meclalons, with intricate mechanism.
supposed 10 show correctly the number of
fares taken. They looked like 50 many
japanese gods with bungling, onerous,
burdensome ornaments about them. The
directors suspected that the conductors
were stealing, and every time the con
ductor pulled the spring that rang the
bell he challenged puElc scrutiny, end
the suggestion came to every mind, 1.-The
company suspects this man to be thief, "
and so they did suspect every man to be
thief. and they doubted the accuracy
of their mechanism as well, because CO
verify and secretly they sent spoilers,
old men, young ladies, tender children,
workingmen in evefy possible disguise,
to keep tally of the number of people
who rode upon the cars and paid fare
for the privilege. As it was ip Boston
so it was in New York and in all the
great centers. The system Of checkage
in use upon our railways today is not
only expensive to the companies and an
intolerable nuisance TO the travelling
public, but direct impugning Of the in
tegrity Of every man in the employ.
buy q ticket from here 10 Boston.
and pay in advance. pay s. for my
ticket, and 81 so, or whatever, for seat
in a drawing room car. 1t should be
quite sufficient for me to give up my
ticket to q gateElan rs enter the depot,
and my other ticket to the porter in
charge of the drawing room car, as ]
enter the car. Instead of which, am
stopped at the gate as / enter the
depot. in order that gateman may
punch the ticket. take my seat in the
car. In comes a train conductor, who
takes my ticket and punches it il three
or four different places. | settle down
t. read my paper or my book, and along
comes the drawing room conductor, who
takes my ticket and gives me another in
its place, on which he punches the year,
the month, the day Of the month, the
number Of the train, the number Of the
car, the number Of the seat, my destina-
ton and the amount paid. all Of which
takes my time and gives him unnecessary
labor. We pass beyond New Haven, and
another conductor comes, ana lie has TO
punch my ticket, and another conductor
comes at Worcester. and he has 20 punch
the ticket. Then they come along again
and take up the tickets.
Come with me into any cf our bar
rooms. our restaurants, our cafes. Time
was when a man could go with his friend
into cafe, order his lemonade ~ what
ever he wanted generally the latter,
throw his money on the counter and
walk out. Now he has to perform the
service Of a waiter. Having taken his
refreshment he waits while the attending
turns to q machine al the back Of the in
closure from which he draws a card, on
which is stamped the amount TO be paid
which amount is shown in glazing letters
upon the machine as the impression IS
made This the customer Is compelled
to carry sometimes distance Of hun
dred feet. at all events he must carry
il wherever the cashier chances to lie
seated. lie hands the check and the
money to the cashier, wipes his mouth
and walks away. In other words, the
barkeeper is distinctly informed by this
procedure that hi; employer has no faith
IN him, and both he and the cashier is
informed by this mechanism, which reg
lsters the amount, that their employer
trusts neither of them.
And, after all, do checks check
Thieying conductor. were supplied by
ingenious mechanics with little arrange
ments by which, while pretending to
register, they IN reality pockeied the fare
without registering. Barkeepcrs, by col
fusion with cashiers, can. If they wish
defraud their employers. This very week
one Of our railroad auditors tumbled over
a plan 10y which fares collected on steam
railways were retained by conductors,
they having duplicate slips furnished
them by the accountant IN the Office.
Human ingenuity is certain to he met by
human ingenuity. In the long run, tax
ing age after age. accumulated facts
have crystaliized themselves into a pro-
verb, Honesty is the best policy" and
dishonest men know just as well as the
good and true that the path to success
lies in that direction, and that leaving
all question of morals out OF considera-
ton, the best policy" the truest way
in which to serve ones selfish purpose,
is to be honest.
!. There must be responsibility some
where. Somebody must he trusted, and
all this intricate system Of checkage
doesn't amount 10 shucks. II a man is
dishonest and has not brains enough TO
know that, in spite of his dishonest ten
dency, success can be obtained by honest
methods alone, no power this side Of
heaven can keep him from cheating, and
cheating for a while without Detection
Joe Howard in Boston Globe.