Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-09
STRUCK BY A STORM.
A Cyclone Sweeps Over Pennsylvania
Railroad Conductors,
TAKING OFF MANY OF THE MEN.
The Others AnxiousIy Awaiting the Light
ning's Next Attack. - e..
WHAT THE VICTIMS HAVE TO SAY


ing in railroad circles for the past two
months, has burst in all its force. The
lightning has already struck IA heads in
Pittsburg, and it is not known just how
many more at other points. Every conduc-
tor on all of the lines of the Pennsylvania
Company is quaklng in his shoes, and some
are even handing in their designations, in
the full knowledge that if they do not they
will be requested.
The discharged men are the Oldest, the
most trusted, and most popular conductors
on the lines. The cause of the storm is
given in speech which General Passenger
Agent E. A. Ford gave utterance to in out
lining his policy. He is reported to have
said: sit is bad policy to keep a passenger
conductor in that capacity for more than
three or four years. By that time they be-
come too well acquainted with the travel
ing public and know too well how to knock
down."
SOME OF THE CHARGES.
He also claimed that conductors on
through trains were carving travelling men
for less than the full fare, and dividing up with
the company. Pursuant to this, spoilers were
put on the through trains. Where full fare
would be 81 the spoilers worked the sympa-
thetic racket. They told conductors they only
had 81. They accompanied this statement with
pitiful tale, and some of the most generous
conductors were caught. The result was that
two conductors were summarily dismissed.
In order to follow out the already outlined
policy OF the Passenger Department OF the
Pennsylvania Company, brakemen, fagmen
and freight conductors were called from their
posts to attend the conductors school in Pitts
burg. This was done about six weeks. In
Philadelphia, it is understood, the same plan
was followed. This alarmed all the conductors,
and they naturally asked themselves the ques-
ton: Where are all these new men to be
placed?' They started their inquiries, and
learned the policy adopted by Mr.. Ford They
feared to say anything, and each hoping that
the lightning would not hit him, kept silent.
Spoilers were placed on every train, and each
conductor was kept under constant surveil-
lance. The result was that the spoilers handed
in to the officials a list of 1S0 conductors whom
They have also handed in long lists OF men who
are accused of knocking down." They are said
to have even gotten ahead of the company with
the duplex receipts which they are compelled
to give whenever cash fare is taken.
A SPRINGTIME STORM.
The gentle springtime was chosen as the time
for the sacrifice, and, with its coming, off went
the heads of Conductors ellison, Whipple and
Sharpless, of the Erie and Pittsburg road. On
the same line Samuel Vance anticipated the
officials by handing in his resignation. They
were all the oldest men on the line, and had the
respect and confidence of all the people who
travelled over the road. They were given no
reason for their dismissal.
The storm then struck the Chicago division,
and the head of Pat Travis, conductor OF %
years experience, fell into the basket From
there the tornado jumped TO the Wayne divi-
sion, and conductors Gruber. Gray and Jackson
saw their positions vanish like the fog before
the wind. Gray and Gruber especially were re-
garded as leaders in rairoadIng, and are well
known by all people on through trains on the
Wayna handling
punch for e years. Gray WED with him in dex-
terity, after an experience of 2 years, while
Jackson bad worn the blue and the silver but
Then the cyclone took sudden twist and
struck the through trains running from Pitts
burg to Crestline- Jolly Captain Jack Day, who
platform for 20 years, and who did not have an
enemy among the passengers that were under
his charge, fell the first victim. He was asked
to turn in his cap and keys on Monday. Follow.
on No. 8 and came back on No. 10.
He met his fate a few minutes after
pay pas William SMITH old
who has given the best years of his life in the
service of the company. --- -.'
PASSED THE UNLUCKY NUMBER.
For fear the unfortunates would become
scared at their only being l3 in number, it was
reported last night that Conductor John Bacon
had Joined the list and raised 1t to IA.
The conductors all over the lines feel that
the storm has just gotten warmed up for its
work. and that heads will fall right and left
for the next few weeks.
One of the freight conductors, who is to be
to passenger train, when asked
about the matter said he did not care to make
the change, as he could only hold it for three
or four years. and he would not want to come
back to a freight train after that.
When asked why he did not believe he could
not retain the position more than four years.
he feared official thunder and said he could not
tell.
A number of the conductors who were dis
missed were spoken to yesterday. and they all
had one opinion, that the storm was the result
of MIR. Ford's policy. One Of them said: THE
department is filled with practi-
cal men who conduct affairs on scientific
basis. The passenger department. on the other
hand, is run completely on theory, The de-
partment is made up OF clerks and college
graduates who want to air opinions. The sys-
tenn of having schools for conductors does not
give any practical benefits. They learn some
thing there about the tickets, and then start
out with pencil behind each ear, punch in
one hand and bunch of tickets in the other.
They are not students of human nature, and
do not have any practical knowledge OF hand
ling trains.
old and experienced men. They were all on
through trains, and the charge that they have
been stealing is nonsense. On those trains
there is not enough cash fares to make it worth
while to attempt to steal. People on such
trains will buy tickets for long trips because
when they pay on the train they have to give
the full cents mile. while ii they
buy tickets they can travel for much less We
know there have been spoilers. and while
there may be some black sheep among the con-
ductors we know there are worse men acting as
spoilers. '..
I'VE have met a number of conductors from
other divisions. and they are all waiting for the
storm to burst in other localities. None of the
old men expect to retain their positions.