The daily morning Alaskan., 1899-12-17
White Pass FmplOyes Con-
 pliment Former Chief.
HOLD A BIG BANQUET
sixty Grateful RRIIroRders Enter tain DheIr Former Supt. at n BIg Dinner.

| Former Superintendent r. II. whiting. of the White Pass X Yukon railway, was last night presented N ith a handsome gold watch and chain by employees of the road. The presentation was made at a banquet gotten up for the occasion and held at the Fifth Avenue hotel. lt was a most sue cesSiul affair in every respect, and will be long remembered by all of the Co or more railroad men present, and doubtless also by Mr. Whiting. who was the recipient dur ing the evening of more expressions Of ap- preciation and regard than one man often gets in ths same space of time.
 Mr. Whiting was division superintend- ent of the road until recently and not only made signal success of the onerous posi- ton incident upon the operation Of a new railway, and d mountain road at that and subject to congeStions of freight, but while operating the road under difficulties and disadvantages won the unanimous regari of the employees in every department When he left the road the employees were truly Sorrv, and they at once made up a purse to secure a reminder of their regaid to present to Mr. Whiting The affair last night was the elimination of that plln. The banquet was most elaborate.
 R. B. Reading, master mechanic, acted as toastmaster aud carried the banquet through with enthusiasm and spirit. He happily explained what difficulty he had in getting Mn Whiting to come to the af- fair. He called upon Conductor Murray Miles to make a speech. In his feletous manner, Mr, Mics said:
 "Mr. Postmaster and friends-l have orders tonight, just received by wireless telegraphv, to throw the switch and run the train of your thoughts from the siding of appettes and sociability t0 the main s. -.s ---,-s-i-si,- Tbe or. ] the superintendent nor the train dispateh- CT. nor from any other one man. They emanate from the employees of the White Pass & Yukon railway, former associates and CO., workers with our fellow employe' Superintendent F. n, Whiting. ] say iel' low employe and friend advisedly, because Mr. Whiting always treated us as sueh' He gave orders and we obeved sheeTiully' but he seemed more like fellow worker interested with US. in successfully operdt' ing the road than he did boss. He was always so devoted to the work he had In hand so enthusiastic to do his part thor oughly-that he inspire enthusiasm ln others. lt was a pleasure and an honor to work for him. Yet. with all his devotion to business he was never too busy to show consideration for the feelings Of his men; snow drifts were never SO deep that they smoth, red his eenialty; freight congestion never SO exaSperating that thev spoiled ms good nature. Under the most trying con di,ions he proved himself at once able and willing to give every man chance. For tbls we are here tonight to thank hlm' u iS unnecessary for me 10 say to you, who all know him, that our retiring SuPeTIn- tendent has our highest admiration for hlS ability, our gratitude for his many acts oi consideration toward us and our greatest appreciation for his character as a man. He has proved himself not only the friend of every man hele, but the friend oi uulh and justice and humanity everywhere We are proud to be known as his friends and
 we want him to know it. We want to to
 tell him tonight in a manner that he will
 remember should duty call him out of oLi
 sight" -
 MT. Miles here held up the watch and
 chain and resumed:
 "The employees of the road in plesen'inI ;
 this watch and chain to Mr. Whiting wlsl
 him to remember every time he eonsults | that he holds today, and always will hold
 the affectlonate regard and esteem oi eaeI
 and every oue of the donors"
 After handing the watch to MT. Whit
 ing MT. Miles said he would simply aad wish for a good old age for the Ietlplen
 and happiness supreme MT. Whiting responded feellnsIv' m1d estly diselaiming any grounds for tn nraise paid him. but rather. he sald' tn } success of the road was due to the eIea and able men who, by attention to ousl : ness, had so eO-operated with him an z with each other, that his own efforts ha . ,... ,,.,.i,, incidental. He expressed b