The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-30
AN ENGINEERS LETTER.
On Plant System Relief Department
and other Matters.

and other Matters.
The following letter in reference to the
hospital and relief department of the
engineers, was written for the Brother
hood of Locomotive Engineers Journal:
Montgomery, Ala.s Aug. 10, 1S9S.-Edltor
B. Of L. Z. Journal: 1 believe when any
one resorts to the columns of any paper
or journal for discussion of any subject,
the more closely they confihe themselves
to facts the better, and the sooner ended
the controversy. I replied to the article in
the Journal of March because I consid-
cred it unjust. 1 did not think it hit me,
but I did not like such things said about
myself or my employer, when circum-
stances did not Justify them. did not re-
fer u Mr.. Durham socially, as my bust
ness has. a,ways been In an official way, I
stated things were more satisfactory here
then than they were under a contract, and
l did 50 from a personal knowledge of facts
as they were, and as they are and 1 did
not give any thought to the question as to
whether 1t was best to say this. 1t is sim
ply the truth, and I never hesitate about
telling it.
If the writer in the Journal had given
me credit for being candid and honest in
my opinions, 1 should not write this but
as he questions my motives, 1 trust this
will put them beyond the right to question.
compulsory, from the knowledge of the
fact that there are men working here that
do not belong to that department. AS to
sending my complaints to the newspapers
mentioned, did not see them, and the ar
tlele in the Journal, which 1 did see, was
such that felt it my duty TO reply to it.
grant that the writer is candid in his
opinions but that he may be mistaken or
unreliably informed, is a matter he should
look more closely into before he questions
the candor Of my opinions. AS to my as
seruon in regard to the conditions of the
engineers, l submit the following testi-
mony as evidence to the truth of 1t:
A. R. Campbell-"You can say for me
that am treated better, and am better sat
Ehed, than 1 ever was under a con-
tract"
], P. GoIden-''Mr. Hall, you can quote
me as being as we'll satisfied and as we'll
treated as 1 could wish TO be. I do not
think l could work for a better man than
Mr. Durham"
William Mahoney-"I am satisfied. 1
can not say any more. 1 never worked
ior better man than y. Durham. We
are getting along very nicely, and 1 am as
well satisfied, in fact, better, than when
We had a contract"
j. NJ. Hudson-tI am getting along nice
" Am perfectly satisfied, and better con-
tented, than when we had a contract"
H. Z. Smith, am licked to death at
me way 1 am getting along. / do not
Know Of any one here who is not satisfied.
you are looking for men who have
UouDle, you will not find them here"
Waycross, Ga, August, 1S9S-The pres
eht administration is as good as 1 could
Elsh. L think Mr.. Durham is one Of the
arrest men l ever worked for. I am per-
iectly satisfied, and do not see any diff
ference in our treatment, unless it is bet
yer than when we had a contract James
Savage"
AS one of the Journals force is per-
Nnally acquainted with these men, he
VIII probably see that there are others
mat speak in the same terms that 1 did.
did take exception to the use of the
WORD subjects" and where is the Ameri-
eah who would not? It Is obnoxious in
avs meaning, and insulting in its use
when applied to Americans do deny
.ue brunswick Times comment and
y! looking over an issue of that paper of
May "a, 1 quote the following: Something
OFer a year ago the Times had an occa-
sum 10 refer to the hospital fund that had
.ecently become feature of that system
eAu winch had been made the subject OF
IHoIe or less adverse criticism, from va
nous sources. At that time we ventured
me assertion that the success of the
nature in question would ventually be
sueh as TO silence opposition and disarm
gitlclsm. That prediction has now been
!lHy borne out by the manner in which
ue hospital service, and sick benefit
tllu' nave been managed, and those who
we're originally inclined to look upon the
pou with anything but favor are now
1uongst its warmest advocates" ]
NOlld take this as evidence that there is
soon being done by the r. e. II. depart
r'eul or THIS article would not have been
,''eh by a paper the b. Of l.. Journal
e'9les as authority and has risen 10 such
cense OF justice as to write the above.
me writer in the Journal knows as
-t as any one, that on all railway sys-
us mere are wrongs done, and orders
~ n by division officers that do not emf.
-'F from the Office OF the president OF
Neral superintendent ]. personally
'.'" or men treated unfairly, whose
longs were righted by Mr.. Durham
r-'n his attention was called to the fact
a., 7 "a pleasure for me TO say this. for
one who thought Il necessary 10 have
=, 0'hlfact 20 get Justice As 90 whether
49,, comments made by the journal were
.Asant 10 Mr. Durham / cannot say
mat lhey are as unjust as uncalied
van not admit OF question
'Ni insurance Be- eubJect Of much ad.
20 criticism BY ihe Journal. 1 would
~, 20 make this illustration ~ iis hene.
% nmploye d alnk for lhrae month";