The morning call., 1892-03-09
SOME RAILROAD TALK.
A Change i'm the Southern Paci.
fic's Pay Department.
Huntington Will Abolish the Present System
and Substitute the Check Method Now
in Use on Eastern Lines.

Coils p. Huntington, in a recent COM
muncation to an official OF the Southern
Pacific Company. strongly intimates that
he is about to make change in an i'm
portant branch of the railroad service.
This change relates to the pay department
Of the company which. in Mr. Huntington's
opinion, should be completely reorganized.
He has arrived at this conclusion after a
thorough investigation made through the
reports submitted for his consideration by
minor officials, and desires to see the change
brought about at once for several reasons.
In the first place the 10000 men employed
on the Pacific system are not at all satisfied
with the present method of paying off and
for several years have clamored loudly for
a change. BY the system now in vogue
they are compelled 10 wait twenty-five days
for their money after it becomes due. For
example. the wages due employees for the
month of February are held by the company
until March p. Very often the twenty-five
day limit is exceeded and the men are
obliged to wait for whole month for
money earned on the previous month.
About a year ago complaints from this
source became so general that VI r. Hunting
ton was forced 10 take cOgDiZance of them
he called meeting of officials and the
Many of the officers opposed anything like
a change and
FINALLY CONVINCED
Mr.. Huntington that the paycar method
was vastly superior to any other, so the
matter was dropped. But Mr.. Huntington
has had few figures prepared on the sub
lect, which show conclusiyely that there is
a deeper reas0n for change than is found
in the complaints of employees. He has
learned that the cost of keeping two pay
cars on the road for two weeks each month
in the year has Away been a needless ex-
pense, and that another system Of paying,
now used by many Eastern roads. would
be preferable. The Eastern method, and
the one which MIR. Huntington now proposes
to adopt, is to pay by checks.
On the Pennsylvania system, with 1000
hands, this has been worked successfully
for years, saving the company considers able
money. and affording better satisfaction
among the men than the old way OF distrib-
uting the cash from paycar.
As soon as the payrolis are made up at
the end of each month checks are forwarded
to division superintendent Tor distribution
among tile men.
The new system will probably be put in
working order soon after Mr.. Huntington S
arrival here next month.
There is no change in matters relating to
the San Francisco and North Pacific road.
Many people are OF the opinion that
Huntington will make bid for the prop
erty with the intention of building an ex-
tension on to humboldt Bay. In this con-
nectiou 1t is said that
MARCUS PoLLAsKY
Was sent to Eureka recently 10y the Southern
Pacitic's President for the purpose of get
ting an idea OF public sentiment in tue
matter OF building road out OF that town.
The result of Pollaskey's trip was the in
formation that citizens desired to see a road
run down the valley to connect with the
Donahue line at Ukiah and not across the
county TO Red Bluff.
From another source comes the rumor
that number Of San Francisco merchants
are going to bid for the road, or have done
SO already.
Railroad men do not think 1t at all prob
able that the Santa Ee will get this prop
erty. One OF them said yesterday that the
road was between Huntington and private
parties OF this city. Que of the executors
of the estate said: Our work has been
finished. As executors we have nothing
more 10 do as far as the sale of the road is
concerned. We are waiting for bids"
Sam Miller has just returned from. the
South where he has been to complete ar
rangements for the opening Of Yosemite
Valley TO tourists. The season this year
will open on March %, twenty-five days
earlier than last year.
Thomas III. MORLEY, ticket agent OF the
Chicago and Northwestern at Chicago, is
visiting The city, accompanied by his family
President r. k. Cable of the Rock Island
system IS due here in few days from South
ern California. Mr.. Cable is touring the
State in his private car.
Jay Adams. Travelling Passenger Agent
OF the Chicago and Alton, is in town.
w. Ii. Snedaker, General Agent of tire
lao Grande Western: has gone to Portland.
General Manager John w. Coleman of the
North Pacific road has just returned from
trip TO the Middle and New England
States.