Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-16
CAUSES WHOLESALE DISCHARGE OF
SANTA FEE CONDUCTORS,
TEN LET OUT, MORE TO FOLLOW
CHARGED WITH CARRYING PAssEN-
GERS ON SHORT FARES.
Aroused Some Time Ago
and investigation Developed
Wholesale SteaIins-Six on
Ell PasO Division-Four
ON Dodge City.

TOPEKA, Jan. 15.-(Special) There was
another wholesale discharge of Santa Fe
passenger conductors to-day Improper
bookkeeping and color blindness on the
part of the conductors was the cause. The
men all worked west of Dodge City. One
year ago the Santa F'e let out more than a
dozen conductors on the Kansas City 6i-
vision for the same cause. Some of the
men had been with the road ever since it
started, and it was with the greatest re-
luctance that the company parted with
them. Not single one was reinstated. 1t
was thought at the time that this would be
a lesson to conductors everywhere on the
line, but it seems that 1t was not needed
AS result the company had to repeat the
dose.
The suspicion of the company was again
aroused about a month ago, when couple
Of travelling men appeared at headquar-
ters in Topeka, and offered to sell some in
formation concerning the conduct of num-
ber Of conductors. Whether or not the
travelling men got any money is not known,
but the company got the information. In
effect it was that the conductors were
carrying scores of people on short fare and
were knocking that down.
The company Immediately put its spot
ters at work. The conductors were not
only watched closely but also the men who
went into the deal to prove that they had
given the company correct Information in
the first place. A report of the crooked
transactions was made to General Superin-
tendent Nudge. the first of last week. and
he went out over the Western division
ostensibly on tour Of inspection. In real
ity he went out to consult the division
superintendent concerning the Information
he had received, and to give them orders.
He returned last night. To-day he re-
ceived word from his subordinates that his
instructions had been carried out and that
ten of the conductors had been discharged.
the fate of seven more conductors is hang
ing in the balance with the chances against
them. Six of the men discharged were on
the La Junta-El Paso division, of which
]. e. Hurley is superintendent, and four
were on the Dodge City-Denver division,
of which Charles Dyer is superintendent.
The fate Of the other seven will be knowp
In couple Of days.
Mr.. Nudge is unable to give the names of
the discharged conductors. The reports to
him simply give the aggregate number let
out without mentioning names. He expects
to get detailed information by letter to-
morrow or Tuesday. He also expects to
learn what has been done in the other
seven cases tomorrow. Some of the men
discharged on the Western end have been
with the road Cor years and years. Their
places will be filled by the elevation Of
freight conductors just as was done when
SO many were let out on the Kansas City
division year ago.
ut is the same old trouble" said Super
intendent Nudge tonight. 1.-THE conductors
got color blind. They could not tell their
money from ours and kept all of it. They
were also defective in bookkeeping. They
ran their books according to their eye
sight and not according to honest business
methods"
1t was a great surprise to the company
when some travelling men "peached." That
class of travellers is supposed to be the last
on earth to put the company onto the fact
that they are getting cheap rates. 1t is an
old rule of travelling men to ride as cheap
ly as possible and turn in expense accounts
to the house for full fare. The fact that a
couple have informed on conductors will
make railroad men chary of all and from
now on knights of the grip will have to
pay full rates, especially on the Santa Fe.