The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-07-14

Q day and zee II you eant think Of .
reason that will prevent Il next time"
Sometimes the o6enses are even more
trivial. A trainmap IL suspended for
appearing oA duty with his uniform in
bad condition. II he IL discourteous to
passengers, II he fails to call stations
properly. II he neglests to help ladies'
on the train.
A freight brakeman ID suspended
from day to a week and sometimes is
given even more of q lay-off for failing
to couple promptly, coming on duty
with his breath smelling Of liquor, for
getting flag or signal, and not re-
porting promptly on time to take his
run.
II conductor does not keep keen
eye to the end THAI the rules shau be
obeyed by the other trainmen. he must
also endure punishment for the Of
fenses they commit. The railroad COM
panies do not intend to promote good
fellowship between subordinates and
superiors. 1t is their desire that the
difference in rank should be thorough
ly in evidence at all times.
It needs no sharp ear to hear the
bitter complaint that many Of the rail-
road men make as to promotions.
"Favorites are jumped over us. over
good men," they say. ut used to be
that the fellows got to the top who
earned their way, but nowadays it is
pull and not merit"
Undoubtedly there are cases where
this is true, but careful reading of
this railroad rule whic h governs pro.
motions is interesting:
"All employees shall be regarded as
in the line of promotion, advancement
depending upon the faithful discharge
Of duty and capacity for increased re.
sronsibility."
1t Is on the last five words Of this
rule that the railroad officials base
their defense Of the charge of favorit-
ism. There are faithful. honest bag
gagemen and station masters in the
employ Of the railroads." said Super
intendent Mccoy, "who have held
their positions for very many years
and often wonder that they have not
been promoted. The reason is simple.
They are good baggagemen and good
station masters, but we have watched
them very closely and tried them in p
quiet way from time to time and
proved that they could not satisfactor-
lily fill higher positions. There are
plenty Of flrst-class conductors ard
brakemen who are fitted for just those
places and no higher ones. That is the
secret OF what sometimes seems pecu-
liar promotions Of railroad employees"
There Is one grea. work that the
railroad discipline of conductors ard
trainmen is accomplishing, work that
Is more beneficial for the creation Of u
vast class of sober and industrious
young men than the work Of all the
temperance associations. Wherever il
Is possible the railroads take young
men into their service because as
stated they like to make their own
men. The young men are ambitious.
they say. while the older men are in
clined TO sink into ruts. This does not
mean that as man grows old he is
likely to lose his position. but that in
flling vacancies the absence of years
is an aid rather than detriment to the
applicant.
Injustice there must be and often
times there is good ground for the bit
ter complaint Of the conductors and
trainmen, but If general results are con.
sidered, the present method of disci-
pline seems entitled to favorable con-
sideration. Every year it is making de-
sirable citizens out OF hundreds Of
young men.