Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-08-07
ALL KINDS OF SPOTTERS
THE WAY IN WHICH WORKMEN ARE
WATCHED DAY AND NIGHT.

A Suspicion OF Dishonesty Prompts One
Man to Watch Another-The Rich and
Poor Alike Are Constantly Under Sur
veiIlance-The Police No Exception.
In one of the police courts the other
day a young man giving an assumed
name was arraigned on charge of
lettering, and a suggestion of suspicious
character" was also made to the judge,
who imposed fine of $40 upon learning
that the young man was employed by
one of the big surface railway companies
as "spotter," and he claimed that lott
ering on street corners was part Of his
uncnviable calling
The hatred displayed by the conductors
for these monitors in their affairs needs
little provocation, and is only equaled
by the anger of bartender when the
proprietor of saloon buys one Of those
automatic CHECK writers and registering
machines. AS q rule the conductors get
to know the men who arc watching
them, and they are mighty careful to
ring up every fare received when the
spy is around, and they generally keep
well posted regarding their movements,
one conductor telling another of the
proximity OF the dreaded individual as
he moves along the lines.
ON THE STREET CARS.
The spotter who appeared at court a
prisoner was searched, and in one of his
pockets was found a number of blanks
on which he keeps his memoranda. The
spaces to he filed in report the day of the
month, year and the exact time of the
day at which car is boarded and in
which direction the car is going Then
follow the number Of fares recorded by
the dial in the car and the number Of
fares received by the conductor in his
presence. The report goes on further to
state: Was the conductor polite? Was
he careless? Was he watchful as to as
sisting ladies and children on and off Of
his car? Was the driver careful with his
team?
The simple mention Of the word spot
ter is enough to bring out a storm of in
dignation from the ordinary railway en-
ploye. Every time / hear Of one Of
these fellows" said a conductor of a
cross town car the other day. lit makes
me think that my employers think that
we are all dishonest The bell punch
is looked upon by the conductors as
badge of dishonor, and, as far as beating
the punch, why it is just az easy to for
get to ring it as it is to fail to pull the
strap on the big dial indicator
"If a man wants TO be dish onest no bell
punch or dial can prevent him from do
ing so. could point out spoilers, any
number of them, who are laughed at By
the men on this road. Some of the dirty
work Is 4 one by women who pretend to
be read book, but who, in reality.
are keeping cases on the unsuspecting
conductor. II man In our business is
disposed to be dishonest and is not q
fool, all the spoilers ia Christepdou
can't catch him. The crowded cars are
his best field, for who can tell whether
he rings up for every passenger or slips
one here and there. At night he will
have a few more nickels in his Jeans
than he is obliged to turn IN, but the
company IL none the worse for it,
I've run on this road now for two
years." said another conductor on the
same line, and think in that time /
have seen about fifty different spoilers.
know them the Minute they get On the
car. The first thing they DO is TO size
you up; and every tirae you pull the
strap they look CT the dial TO see II II
registers correctly. They are unlike the
ordinary passenger, insonuch as they
wear an air OF assumption that gives
them dead away"
The Il" roads have "spotte-s- also.
but not 70 watch the train banda These
persons airs called inspectors, and they !
prowl around from station TO station at !
the mos. unseernly hours, Just TO catch |
the drowsy agent or ticke: chopper |
asleep on his post, or neglec;inS bis
bun es Il any way.
EVERYBODY wATcHrx0.
The policeman breads bis round.rnAn. /
for be knows that officer Is appointed &c
spy upon him and report any failure &c
perform his duty. Ard ye. what would /
the police force amount 10 /. there was
DO such ofscer 70 watch the policeman;
! he Railways would be tie sleeping place
for some and tee drinking saloon. tia
rendezvous for others.
So MAJ who Is honest q, hsart,- aid
. well known police oesci2I the ether
day. needs any watching. A policeman
cuxhs 20 bs the last man 10 oEi4,-t IN -