Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-08-27

The Pennsy vania Railroad Company Is
about to establish pension system for
its employees which 1t proposes to place in
the hands Of lite own operatives in this
way. The company has Relief Associa-
TOMAS have several other railroads Of
the country-which 1t is to make the
manager Of the new pension department
This Association, al the end OF its third
years' operations was found to have in its
treasury the sum Of $40, 7ss after all ben
eflts had been paid. 1t was the existence
Of this large balance which suggested to
the management Of the road the pla n
Of allowing pensions to superannuated
members Of the Relief Association.
This plan met with so much favor that
several meetings have already been held
Of various committees Of the association
for the purpose Of devising a practical
scheme. At first q difficulty OF adjustment
was encountered. Those employees Of the
road who have put their money into the
relief association did so with the under
-thHuihR ltidt Tue Iunu was W DC uiaWH
from only to pay benefits resulting from
death. accident aud sickness. 1t was
found that the surpu. could not be paid
in pensions to old and used-up employees
Of the road without consent Of all the
members; but President Roberts, who has
taken a large personal interest In the plan,
says there will be no real trouble in OBJ
tanning their consent and putting the new
plan in operation. The Pennsylvania Com
pnny hears all the expense Of operating
its relief association, which in the three
the sum Of sl67 900 In benefits resulting
from death. sickness and accident. SINH
lar to this, is the plan Of relief adopted by
the Reading Railroad, whose association
has been in operation but one year and yet
Il has already paid out s5i, 399 in benefits
and has also large surplus. The Read
ing company not only bears all the ex-
pense Of conducting the business Of the
association, but contributed the sum of
$50, 900 to the fund at the stat. The
general scheme Of the pension system " i'll
he such that every employe OF the road
bel Dnging to the relief, will, when old age
incapacitates him from work receive a
fixed yearly stipend during life. A relief
association, similar to those outlined above,
Is connected with several Eastern ,ads,
among them the Boston and Maine. and
Maine Central, though We have no late
figures Of their amount OF business.
Pension systems exist in the German
States where the railroads are operated
by Government, and to some extent in
France where they are, a. In this country.
controlled by private corporations; so that
the great Pennsylvania road will be the
first to inaugurate the system in this
lem believe that where scheme of pro-
motion exists in the service, and insur-
ance, Cor relief and pension features are
added, the ideal relation between employer
and employed will have been realized. The
brakeman or conductor is assured of
steady advancement as result OF eff
cheney and can look forward to a comfort
able old age free from want. Under such
a system strikes will be impossible, the
efficiency of the service will have attained
its highest level, and the physical condi-
ton of the operatives reached all the per-
lection possible in this life.