Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-06-20
SHARING THE PROFITS.
The st. Louis, Alton and Terre Haute in
Favor oft.

Mr.. George W. oParker, president and
general manager of the St Louis, Alton
and Terre Haute, in his annual report. Just
published, advocates dividing profits with
employees, which, he says, has long been a
cherished desire of the management. The
plan could not be carried out, because NTH
erto even the stockholders have got no divi-
bends, but with favorable bond market it
is hoped to realize sufficient funds from the
bonds received in payment for part of the
road recently sold, to put the stock on
paving basis.
Commenting on this the Railroad Gazette
SAYS:
I'VE are glad to see this announcement,
for there is no question that whatever dis
content exists among the railroad employees
of this country is largely based on the belief
that wages are too rigidly fixed by the law
of supply and demand, and never varied,
except to be reduced by wholesale when
business is dull. Even after making allow
ance for prejudice and ignorance, it must
be admitted that this feeling has some
justification by reason of the fact that re-
auctions are likely to be made in the pay of
a large number at once, and TO be much
talked about, while advances are more
likely to be made a few at a time, and to be
kept quiet
But the Gazette doesn't think the benefit
to be derived from such plan is more than
temporary
This" says the Gazette. s.seems to be the
lesson of the experiments of mercantile and
manufacturing concerns that have tried
protit-sharing. 1t offers very little to cure
the evils of machine methods of disciplining
men, and that is the worst evil in the man
agement OF railroad employees. The great
need of railroad management in this re-
spect is closer relation between the
manager and the workmen. The desider-
alum here, as in all other business is to
pay dividends to the best men, who will re-
turn the amount in more efficient service,
and to coincidently show that the work of
the other men does not deservss1
the same recompense; which implies.
of course, that these men ought either
to improve their abilities or resign.
Profit sharing has never done much in this
respect. 1t is sometimes varied according
to length of service, and is of course pro-
portioned TO salaries, but length of service
is often an unjust criterion, as every one
knows. A mere horizontal" dividend paid
to all, or nearly all, the employees is pretty
sure to be too small to counter
act the more powerful forces tending to in
huence the men in the opposite direction,
and it will be hard to get directors to pay
money where there is no tangible return at
all except in the shape of sympathy. Re-
suits must in the long run be visible, at
least partially, in improvement of service.
Mr.. Parker's road (or any other) can
doubtless make the best use of the profits
it can spare by providing more careful, con-
slant and thorough supervision of every
mans work, by keeping just and impair
tial record of every mans efficiency, and by
readjusting the wages of those lower
grades from which promotions are
to be made, so that the best individuals
among these shall with more certainty
be kept in the service till they are
wanted. We do not mean, of course, that
only apprentices should be favored with
''raise.'' The more particular record of
and acquaintance with the employees gen.
orally will surely force variations In their |