Omaha daily bee., 1893-10-29

" lloh OthttT Ahl1 N6oV AAtaoNh ~ |
army is Differed by the brainiest men
hat can be found In America, who are
especially trained to make the service OF
their companies efficient and remuner-
alive. The great science Of modern
.railroading is to decrease expenses and
increase earnings. To this end every
manager constantly e%ndeavors
to operate the road SO that he can get
the largest amount of service with the
smallest force for the least money.
In almost every other country but u
own the railway service affords steady
employment at fixed wages, with promo
ton according to merit and length OF time
each individual has been in the service.
Men are only discharged for cause.
Men who receive injuries in the service
of the company and those who have beef
in the service to IN advanced age are
retired on sufficient pay to keep them
comfortable.
In this country the oldest and most
faithful employe is liable to dismissal
on q days notice, with no other explana-
ton than that his services have been
dispensed with. Men who have devoted
half a lifetime to becoming experts in
any branch of ~railroading are thrown
out arbitrarily to make way for
some favorite of the general
anage or some relative of an infuen-
tial politician. This uncertainty OF
tenure extends through the entire SER
vice from the managers Office down to
the section hand. For any grievance,
just or unjust, there is no redress unless
the complaint is backed by numbers or
potential friends. The only efficient
counter force has been association and
mutual resistance to enforce fair treat
ment. What has been accomplished in
the way of securing redress and check
ing the downward pressure of wages has
been through the brotherhoods and
declarations of locomotive engineers,
firemen, conductors, brakemen, switch
men, train dispatchers, operators and
other employees in the train service.
The workmen in the shops and on the
roadway and the clerks are for the
most part still at the mercy of arbitrary
bosses and heads of departments.
The most fragrant misuse of association
is the so-called hospital service and SINH
lar relief associations, which ostensibly
nave for their object mutual protection
of employees, but in reality are chiefly
maintained for the benefit of the rail-
way companies. When the surgeon gen.
eral of the Union Pacific inaugurated
the employees hospital tax about twelve
years ago there IA a general revolt
against this imposition all along the
line. Protests and remonstrances were
-showered upon the managers from every
shop and office, and the feeling of oppo-
sition was so intense that for a time
DR.. MERGERS pet scheme had to be aban-
doned. But after two or three years Of
resistance the men were finally whipped
in. Willing or unwilling, so cents a
month is taken out of the wages of every
man or woman on the pay roll and set
apart as a hospital fund to pay for sur
geons, doctors and drugs. Now, al
though this fun( is a forced contribu-
tion from he'employes, they have not a
word to say about its disposal. The man
ayers engage the surgeon general and
his assistants and to these managers
alone do the railroad doctors look for
any directions. If a trainman or shop
man meets with an accident The CON-
pany's doctor, paid for with his own
money, waits on him and treats him
until he RECEIVERS or dies. If he remains
a cripple for life the. company's doctor
first tries to persuade him that his in.
juries are temporary and advises him tc
settle for a mere p~ittance. Ii he de-
clines to settle and brings suit for dam
ages the company's doctor, paid for out
of the fund contributed by the toilers
will, nine times out of ten, join the com
pany's attorney in an effort to cut dowr
his claim or beat him altogether.
Against such systematic oppression
nobody at railroad headquarters or OF
the read dares to raise his voice
Where, o where, is Railroad Organize
Knodell and his association of enlisted
political serfs? Why have they neve
struck a blow for freedom by demandin!
that the men who pay the hospital ia:
oudii nave NolSc III iS cApcHultuTo'
The Burlington road has also organ
lied a benevolent association for its ow
relief. 1t is known as the Burlington
Voluntary Relief Department. Oster
sibly this society was formed for tn
protection and relief OF employees injure
in the service of the company
A case now pending before tn
supreme court of Nebraska unmasks tn,
real object, which is nothing more no
less than a device to relieve the CON
pany from responsibility for accidental
manning or killing men in its employ
The case we cite is that of Joseph Bel
who was iammed in coupling an engin
and had three ribs broken. Be
brought suit for damages and wa
awarded 800 by the jury that tried tn
case. From this verdict an appeal
now pending in the supreme court. TIL
company demands that the verdict b
set aside because Bell is a member
The Blu lington Voluntary Relief ass
citation and therefore is bound b
its rules. Under the provisions
this association the Burlington Railroa
company guarantees the fulfillmer
of its obligations to members. The cor