The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-04-28
A New Scheme Devised by
the United States Ex-
press Company.
THE MEN WILL STRIKE
They Have No Protection, Yet They
Must Guarantee Their En-
plOyers Against Loss.

The greatest dissatisfaction prevails
among the employees in this city at the
present time and the strike may occur
even before the date mentioned.
The trouble has its origin in a move
ment on the part of the company to re-
duce the wages Of the drive
ers and clerks The manner in
which the reduction is to be made is pc
culiar one, as it consists Of binding every
employe for a certain sum Of money, the
premium on which will be deducted from
his pay.
About one year ago reduction OF ten
per cent was made on the salaries, and
this caused considerable dissatisfaction
among the employees. A strike was
averted however by a concession OF i've
per cent. Yesterday a circular was dis
tributed among the employees which they
are compelled to sign If they desire 70
hold their positions.
A QUEER AGREEMENT.
The agreement on the circular Is as
follows:-
II also state and agree as terms and
conditions Of my employment as foi-
lows
First, will during such employment
observe and obey all rules and regula-
tions Of the company, and all instruc-
tions that / may receive about the COM
pany's business.
Second, | am not addicted to the
use of Intoxicating liquors or other slim
ulanrs to excess, and VIII not so use them
during such employment.
Third, the company having estab-
lished for the concurrence and benefit OF
itself and such Of its employees as are re-
quired buy it to furnish bonds for the
faithful and honest performance OF their
duties, system Of bonding such en-
ployes, an explanation OF which Is print
ed hereon, under which the en-
ployes pay premiums at rates es-
tablished by the company, to
repay its losses in its business arising
from negligence. default or fraud OF the
employees. / agree 10 participate in
their plan and l apply to be bonded IN
that system to the amount required by
the company, and | agree TO pay the es-
Lablished premiums for such bonding
and to abide by the terms, conditions and
regulations Of such system as they may
be from time to time made by the COM
"Fourth, understand that may be re-
uuired TO render services for the company
On and about the railroad,
stage and steamboat lines used
by the company for forwarding
property. and that such employment is
4
and Injury TO myself arising out OF such
employment and release and indemnify
the United States Express Company ana
the corporations ana persons owning or
operating said transportation lines from
any or all claims that / or my executors
or administrators might make arising out
of any such accidents or injuries that may
happen to me while SO employed.
Fifth, / also agree for myself, my
heirs and executors, to indemnify the ex-
press company against all loss, damage,
costs and expenses that may be caused by
any negligence, fraud or default OF
mine.
out notice. at any time, whether
at the end of a month or not,
and for any reason satisfactory
to the company terminate my employ
| ment and discharge me. and If should
be discharged before the end of a month
| am to be paid at the rate of my salary
or wages for that part of the month only
during which L shall have served"
ALL INDIGNANT.
The emplOyes met last night and dis
cussed the advisability of signing such an
| agreement and the prospects are that the
| old drivers will not work under it. claim
| ing that they are given no chance at all.
| They are specially indignant because it is
a re Election upon their honesty.
For years past employees handling
money have been bonded, but this binds
| every driver and helper In the employ Of
| the company:-The rule goes into effect
| on MAY i, and as yet not an employe has
signed. In connection with the above
requirements the company issued the
| following
PRETTY oNE-sIDED.
1.-THE Express Company has established
| this system of bonding its employees in
| order to provide for itself more satisfac-
1 e ~. l..
| and, if possible, at lower rates of premium
| to its employees. No Surety Company or
| persoual bonds will be accepted by
| the Company Each employee holding
| a position Of trust will be required to be
| bonded into prescribed amount and 10
| pay the premiums thereon. All money
| arising from premiums Is to be the prop
erty OF the company, but it win be kept
| by the company in a trust company as g
separate fund. The amount of any loss
damage or cost coming to the company
through the fraud, default or negli-
gence of any employe bonded
in this system, viii be repaid TO the com
amount in which said employe is bonded.
From time to time the company intends
| as a nraIuity only to re-distribuIe among
the participating employees such part ol
the bond fund as shall not have beer
used to repay losses. damages and cost:
| and tle eApcu5c OA COAOuSlAus
the same, and as the company
may deem to be not needed to meet cur
rent losses and probabilities of losses
Such distribution will be In proportion tC
the total amounts of premiums that shall
have been paid in by the participating
employees since the last previous distrlbu
tlon. No employe shall participate IL
such distribution who shall not at thu
| time thereof be in the company:
employ, or who shall have paid all pre-
miums then due from him. or whose fraud
default or negligence shall have caused
any loss or damage to the company. The
company shall be the sole judge Of the
amounts in which its employees shall bl
bonded. The company may amend an
| modify the system of bonding in any re
spect at any time
A CHICAGO IDEA.
| These orders come direct from Genera
| Manager G. H. Crosby of Chicago, and arr
to be put in operation in all parts Of the
country where the company's employees
are stationed.
We don't gain anything by this move, "
said driuer this morning. I'VE hay'
been working for years for this company
and have never been compelled 70 give .
bond. We don't handle money, and 1
would appear that the officials dit
not trust US Under this ruls
If anything goes wrong, 1
clerk in any part of the country steal
money we are all assessed 10 such al
extent to make up the loss TO the com
pany. The rich company loses nothing
but We poor fellows have TO pa.