The Waco evening news. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 1891-1894, 1894-05-02

the duties of two distinct positions,
thus depriving many superintend.
ents now unemployed, of positions.
We claim that the smallest mill
should have a superintendent, I'M.
trammeled with other duties, and
he should be a machinist. A s1-
perintendents place is in the mill
during working hours, and you all
we'll know that his absence from
even one department for an hour at
time, often causes delay which
cannot be made up, except at the
expense of an interior product and
a reckless handling of machinery.
With desire not to appear as die.
tating to our employers, and with
no inclination to interfere or say
how these mills should be Off cered,
we do insist that all mills should
combine the positionof president and
manager, if there lie to be any com.
bination, IS it can be demonstrated
that one man cannot fill the posi-
ton of manager and superintendent
with credit to himself or the mill,
and a discontinuance of this prac.
tice will not only be beneficial to
superintendent, but will produce
more successful operation of the
plant and greater increase in
profits. There is another abuse that
we should try to correct, and it can
best be accomplished by kind re.
quest from this association TO all
managers, and thoughtful men will
see the confusion and disorder which
is brought about by this thought
less practice.
A superintendent should have
full power to hire and discharge all
employees who work under him, for
many of you have doubtless seen
the trying position some superin.
tendents are placed in by not being
allowed this privilege, which forms
part of his duties and response.
bilities. Then again it has
been clearly shown, in mum.
erous instances, that all orders
to mill employees should come
through the superintendent, for it
often happens that manager gives
an order which is directly contrary
to other orders already issued by
the superintendent, and conhlctingl
orders have tendency to cause dis.
respect from the employees to the
superintendent, besides creating an
uncertainty in their minds as to
whom they should obey; am glad
to say, however, that this state of
affairs does not to any great extent
exist.
One more point which / consider
the greatest evil and hardship con-
nected with our business, and l will
not tax your patience longer: l I
refer to Sunday work, desecra.
ton of Gods Holy Day. There are
certain things about an oil mill that
can only be done when the mill is
not under steam, one of these is
boiler cleaning, and this is the only
work really necessary to be done on
the Sabbath. except when serious
break down occurs, which would |
possibly consume day for repairs;
but you must all admit that it is
the custom to hold over every thing
for Sunday, and use that day for
general repairs, depriving superin.
tendents of their duty to God, and |
their families, besides forcing the
same hardship upon other en-
ployees, who need the rest that
God and nature demand, | imagine
/ hear rising up from the throata of
many oil mill men that familiar but
incorrect cry, Sunday work can.
not be avoided" but l thank God |
that one manager and superiuten.
dent in Texas has demonstrated |
that it can be done, and l will re.
joice to see the day when all our
mills, not only in Texas, but
throughout the southern states, will
cease to abuse Gods day and rob
man of his rest. The superintend.
ent of the mill l refer to, l am glad
to see. is with US today, and before our
meeting closes, we will ask him to
tell US how we can reform this de
plorable practice.
In conclusion, allow me to thank
Won for yOur kind attantion and la+