Omaha daily bee., 1889-04-28

case VI sickness JOu disability, and his
family would be assured OF IL in case OF
his death.
The moment {, permanent service was
thus established IL would also involve
further prov visiont Of an educational ma
ture. That is, the companies must con-
tinually provide a stock OF men for the
future. Where h boy-the son OF an
employe-growsu up always looking for
ward to entering tha company's service,
he becomes to that company very much
what cadet at West Point or Annapolis
is to the army Or navy OF the United
States; the ideae OF loyalty to the COM
pany and of pride in its service grows
up with him. Railroad educational In
stitutions Of thissort have already been
created by at least one corporation in
the country, and they should be cre-
ated by all corporations of the first class.
The children of employees would natur-
ally go into these schools, and the best
OF them would at the proper age be sent
out upon the road to take their places
in the shops, on the track or Mt the
brake. From those thus educated the
higher positions in the company would
thereafter be filed. The cost OF main
tanning these schools, at least in part,
would become u regular item in the
operating expenses of the road. Prop
erly handled, n vast economy would be
effected through them. The morale of
this service would gradually be raised,
and the morale of a railroad IS, il prop
erly viewed, no less important than the
morale OF an army or navy. 1t is in
valuable.
But it is futile to suppose that such a
ganized, in America, ut least, unless
thnSn In IL allowed a
voice in the management. Practically
the most important feature Of the whole
is therefore yet to be con-
sidered.. How is the employe to
be assured a voice In the
management of these joint interests,
without bringing about decentralization?
No one has yet had the courage to face
this question:; and yet it is % question
which must be faced il solution OF ex
listing difficulties is to be found. If the
employees contribute to the insurance
and other funds, it is right that they
should have q voice in the management
of those funds. If an employe holds his
situation during good behavior, he has
right to be heard in the organization
of the board which, in case of his sus-
pension for alleged cause, is to pass
upon his behavior. No system will sue
ceed which does not recognize these
rights. In other words, it will be i'm
possible to establish perfectly good faith
and the highest morale in the service of
the companies until the problem of Civ
ing this voice to employees, and giving
it effectively, is solved. 1t can be solved
in but one way; that is, by representa-
tion. To solve it may mean industrial
peace.
1t is, of course, impossible to dispose
of these difficult matters in town meet
ings. Nevertheless, the town meeting
must be at the base OF any successful
plan for disposing Of them. The end
in this case is the company represented
by its president and board of directors
and the employees into direct and i'm
mediate contact through u representa-
tive system. When thus brought into
direct and immediate contact, the par
ties must arrive at results through the
usual method: that iss by discussion and
rational agreement. 1t has already been
noticed that the operating department
of great railroad company naturally
subdivides itself into those concerned in
the train movement, those concerned in
the care of the permanent way and those
concerned IN the, work Of the mechani-
cal department, 1t would seem proper,
should be formed, of such a number as
might be agreed on, containing repre-
sentatives from each OF these depart
ments. In order to make an effective
representation, the council would have
to be large body. For present pur-
poses, and for the sake of illustration
merely, it might be supposed that, in
the case OF the Union Pacific, each de-
partment in division OF the road would
elect its own members of the employ
ees' council. There are five of these
divisions and three departments in
every division. The operating men,
the yard and section men, and the ma
chinists of the division would, there
fore, under this arrangement, choose a
given number of representatives. Ii one
such representative was chosen to each
hundred employees in the permanent
service those thus selected would con-
stitute division council. To perfect
the organization, without disturbing
the necessary work of the company,
each of these division councils would
then select certain (say, for example,
three) of their number, representing the
mechanical, the operating and the per-
manent way departments, and these
delegates from each of the departments
would, at certain periods of the year, to
AOl ny oiAS ai OiSiCo vi
ization, all meet together at the head
quarters of the company in Omaha.
The central council under the system
here suggested would consist of fifteen
men; that is, one representing each of
the three departments of the five sew
eral divisions. These fifteen men would
represent the employees. 1t would
be- for them to select a board of
delegates, or small executive commit
tee, to confer directly with the president
and board of directors. Here would be
found the organization through which
the voice OF the employees would make
itself heard and felt in matters which
directly affect the rights of employees,
including the appointment of tribunal
to pass upon cases OF misdemeanOr and
the management of all institutions,
whether financial or educational, to
which the employees had contributed
and in which they had consequent in
terest.
There is no reason whatever for sun
posing that, within the limits which
have been indicated, such an organiza-
tion would lead to difficulty. On the
contrary, where it did not remove diff
ficulty it might readily be made to open
| u way out of it. The employees, feeling
that they too had rights which the COM
pany frankly recognized and was bound