Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-12-13
SYSTEMS OF "cAecKAee.-
Joe Howard Thinks They Are a Nuisancs-
Policy of Honesty.


Joe Howard Thinks They Are Nuisancs-
Policy "f Honesty.
Are we nation Of liars, thieves,
cheatsl II not. what is the meaning Of
the universal suspicion which poisons
every brother scupl Why these checks
In street cars, these mechanical contriy-
ances in barrooms, these private detect
I i've agenciesg You remember what a
huhbub was created years ago when con-
ductors were compelled To wear massive
medalhons, with intricate mechanism.
supposed To show correctly the number Of
fares taken. They looked like SO many
Japanese gods with bungling, onerous,
burlensome ornaments about them. The
directors suspected that the conductors 1
were stealing, and every time the con-
ductor pulled the spring that rang the +
bell he challenged public scrutiny. and /
the suggestion came To every mind, ''the
company suspects this man 20 bc thief
and 80 they did suspect every man to he
thief, and they doubted the accuracy
OF their mechanism rs well, because CO.
verify and secretly they sent spoilers,
, old men. young ladies. tender children,
I workingmen III every Possible disguise,
l TO keep tally Of the number of people
> who rode upon the cars and paid fare
! for the privilege. As il was in Boston
. SO il was in New York and in ali the
Il great centers The system of checkage
II in use upon our railways today is not
!. only expensive &C. the companies and an
5 intolerable nuisance TO the travelling
Q public, but direct impugning ~ the in
, tegrity of every man in the emp-yy.
10 buy n ticket from here 20 Boston.
and pay in advance. pay s. for my
II ticket, and $3.50. or whatever, for a seat
sr in drawing room car. II should he
N quite sufficient for me TO give up my
ii ticket To a gaterlan as | enter the depot,
and my other ticket TO the porter in
h. charge of the drawing room car, MS |
ut enter the car. Instead of which. | am
re etopped at the gate as i enter the
IS depot, in order that gateman may
Ist punch the ticket. | take my seat in the
at car. In comes a train conductor, whC
It's takes my ticket and punches IL In three
to or four different places. | settle down
lie 10 read my paper or my book, and along
ID comes the drawing room conductor, whC
90 takes my ticket and gives me another il
mp its place, ON which Inc punches the year
IA the month, the day Of the month, th'
its number OF the train, the number Of tin
hi car, the number of the seat, my destina
ct. ton and the amount paid, all of whiel
.ry takes my time and gives him unnceessar,
.hc labor. We pass beyond New Haven, auD
are another conductor comes, ami he has I
punch my ticket. and another conducto
oor comes at Worcester and he has to pune
g,n the ticket. Then they come along agai
and take up the tickets.
to Come with me into any of our bal
edi rooms, our restaurants, our cafes. Tim
wv, was when man could 60 with his frien
go. into cafe. order his lemonade or wha
With ever he wanted, generally the latte
inn throw his money ON the counter an
is walk out. Now he has to perform Il
ing service of waiter. Having taken h
feel refreshment lac waits while the attendaI
mp turns To "A machine at the back Of the u
YOU closure. from which hc draws a card. q
you which is stamped the amount 20 be pai'
OTIS which amount is shown in glaring lette
nth upon the machine as the impression
lot made. This the customer Is compcllt
and TO carry sometimes distance of a hun
dred feet. At all events he must earn
ter, il wherever the cashier chances 10
ser. seated. He hands the check and q
ub- money to the cashier, wipes his moui
hat and walks away. In other words, u
fu. barkeeper IL distinctly informed by I'll
Is it procedure that his employer has no fat
bsli- in him. and both lie and the cashier
ow. informed by this mechanism, which re
had isters the amount, that their employ
} of trusts neither of them.
lrge And, after all, do checks checkl
ere; Thieying conductors were supplied
Dod. ingenious mechanics with little arrang
ere, ments by which, while pretending
ent. register, they in reality pocketed the f.
kis,' without registering. Barkeepers. by c
- tti.
Be- defraud their employers. This very we
per- one of our railroad auditors tumbled o'
the q plan by which fares collected on stes
You railways were retained by conductO
lt Of they having duplicate slips furnish
want them by the accountant IN the OH
No, Human ingenuity is certain TO be met
lere. human ingt nuity. In tine long run, [;
y in ing age after age, accumulated Ia
will have crysiallized themselves into a =
All. verb. Honesty is the best policy a
dishonest men know just rs well as
} the good and true that the path 10 succ
wa lies in that direction. and that leav
out all question OF morals out of considc
with ton. the best policy the truest "
In which To serve ones selfish purpC
Il Is To be honest.
II in There must be responsibility sol
rate. where. Somebody must be- trusted, 1
ublic all this intricate system Of check
will doesn't amount to shucks. II a mar
will dishonest and has not brains enough
year know that in spite Of his dishonest I
anty- dency, success can be obtained by hon
ozen methods alone. no power this side
You heaven can keep him from cheating.
put cheating for while without detection
can Joe Howard in Boston Globe.
town "
,oing A Yer, curlou. Case.