The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-10-05
No Decrease in the Staff
of Employees.
New Order Began on Last
Sunday.

| ouperfnbondeuts OF the Gr6nu trunk have
been engaged during the week In prepar-
ing and issuing to the numerous train.
station, and other employees interested,
the first time tables (known officially as
"No. III. for the various districts. I'M
der the new STANDARD Rules" which
took effect sunday. October LIST, at 10
o'clock noon.
The Standard code Of rules 10 80 called,
because 1t is the model code, formulated
and recommended by the American Rail-
way association. the membership of
which Is composed of all the representa-
tive railways of Canada, the United
States and Mexico.
The Standard Rules are the result of
years Of observation, thought and study
Of the best minds of the railroad world,
are evolved from practical experience.
and were only adopted, one BY one, after
thorough Investigation and discussion at
the regular annual meetings Of the
American ailway association, upon re-
ports made BY special committees Of
practical members appointed because of
their fitness for the special work In view.
They have now been adopted by practi
cally all the railroads operating In the
United States and Mexico, or Q mileage
Of lO0. OF miles out of q total railroad
mileage of 1870, $50, as well as by some of
the railways In Canada-for instance,
the st. Lawrence and Adirondack rail-
way-and now that the Grand Trunk
has led the way, they will likely be
adopted by other important systems In
Canada, The Canadian officials having
already had the matter under ccnsidera-
ton at one of their recent joint meetings
held In Montreal-their present rules be-
Ing based in some degree ON the Standard
Code.
The new code Is admittedly superior TO
any other oede, not only because of the
increased safety to trains that is secured,
but owing to the facility with which tel
egraphic train orders are handled. As is
well known among railroad men, the
| correct transmission of train orders Is of
the first Importance, and danger to trains
Is increased in proportion to the number
of orders given. This feature of the new
code Is especially commended, because of
the fact that 1t reduces the issuing of
these orders to minimum, aud where
| five and six, or even more orders are now
ordinarily givsn, under the present code.
providing for train movement, under
the new standard code but one order Is
necessary, being transmitted In such a
way that all employees Interested In the
running OF the trains specified In the or
der receive identioally the same order.
In addition to the large reduction in tele-
graphing that will result, the Grand
Trunk company. as well as Its employees
will benefit by the faot that the adoption
of uniform standard code of rules for
the entire system will do away with the
different. codes that have heretofore
governed on various portions of the sys-
tenn, SO me having been adopted by the
several branches when they were operated
as individual and independent railways,
and continued after the amalgamation
with the Grand Trunk system. The fact
of the different codes being In effect on
different portions of the system has re-
suited. in many instances, In confinirg
to minor positions on the less important
branch lines, capable and worthy en-
ployes who, we'll deserving promotion,
have failed to secure more lucrative po-
sitions on the other portions of the sys-
TEN because Of the fact that they were
not familiar enough with the rules in
effect governing such positions, and con.
seouently could not fulfill the require
ments.
| When 1t was first proposed to adopt the
new rules a number of the employees of
the Grand Trunk system were honestly
opposed to same, not having studied nor
understanding their value and advap-
tages to both the trainmen ana public.
There was also some fear on their part
lest they should lose their positions, be-
cause of failure to understand the rules.
1t Is now understood, however. that ow-
ing to their simplicity. as well as their
breyity, the employees are unanimously
In accord with the policy OF the company
in adopting the new code.
AS is the general practice when adopt
ing the standard code. the management
of the Grand Trunk has necessarily made
their minor changes In q number OF the
rules, In order to meet the local require
ments peo uliar to the conditions on tbs
81 stem.
The Book of Rules as published has
been In the hands Of the employees for 1
year or more past, who have been ex
amined as to their proficiency, and nov
that they are thoroughly familiar witt
them, the management have decided tina
they are finally In position to put then
into effect ON Sunday, the day usually
selected on which to make effective new
schedules.
! Itmay be stated that the new rules will
not tend to reduce the number, or 9th.
erwise seriously effect the smployss o
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