The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-12-14
President Ripley of the Santa
Fe Talks About Employees.
FavOrs a System by Which
Faithful Could Be Retired.
SALARIES CONTINUED.
Men Would Receive Full Pay
After Incapacitated.
Piece Work System May Be Ex-
tended.

The thirty odd thousand employees of
the Santa F7e system lines can have
mutual insurance organization with a
pension system combined if they want
it. President E. P. Ripley, while in this
city today, stated that he was heartily
in favor of a mutual insurance or
ganization and a pension system, and
declared that the company stood ready
to do its share toward such end.
The only railroad employees in the
United States who now carry insur-
ance under a mutual plan are those of
the Pennsylvania road, and that com
pany has perfected a pension system
to go into effect January 1 by which all
employees over 20 years. or who have
been in the service of the company for
80 years or more, viii be retired from
work and their names continued on the
pay rolls.
IF the employees want mutual insur-
ance which will develop a sion fund
they can have it, said Mr.. Ripley.
Such a condition of affairs is desir-
able, and the company stands ready to
do its part. OF course the men will
have to manifest a desire for mutual
insurance and pensions before the man
agement will do anything toward put
ting such a plan into effect. But the
manifestation of such a desire on the
part of the employees will be all that
will be necessary.
L have always held that a railroad
company could insure its employees with
advantage to them under a mutual
plan This is only reasonable because
the company would save the money
that insurance companies pay out for
soliciting and various other expenses.
Inside a few years this money would
form a fund sufficient to establish a
pension system. In this way, by paying
no more in premiums than they do at
present and possibly less, the employees
would insure themselves a continual
monthly income during their life time
However, L do not believe the aver
age railroad empIoye is afraid of old
make no move toward securing such
advantages. 1t is essentially something
that the company could do nothing
without the cooperation of the en-
plOyes, and for this reason it depends
altogether on the men,
In speaking of the attitude of the
management toward the employees, sug-
gested by the discussion of the pension
system, President Ripley said:
i want every man in the employ of
the Santa Fe to feel that his success
depends entirely on his individual eff
forts. 1 am a thorough believer in civil
service in railroad promotions, and in
time 1 hope to see understudys for ev-
cry position in every department of the
system. l want every man on the road
to feel that he has something to work
for, and intend to aid this individual
belief by continuing to promote men
from the ranks as far as possible in
stead of going outside for help. 1t is
benefit to company to do this because
it makes the men more particular and
ambitious in their work.
President Ripley believes in the ad-
Vantages of the piece work system,
which has been recently inaugurated at
the Santa Fe shops in this city. He
stated that unless circumstances not
now anticipated presented themselves
it would be extended generally in the
shop work of the Santa Fe.
Competent and energetic wOrkmen
are not the men who complain of the
piece work system said he. 1T is a
system that is absolutely fair to the
men, and I see no reason why it should
not prove successful. There is every
reason why lazy wOrkmen should Op-
pose its Introduction, but no reason
why the men who are willing and cap
able of doing their work should object
to it in the least" The complaint in
Topeka was not about the system but
the schedule adopted.
In regard TO the rumor that the San
ia Fe shops at Ration. New Mexico,
would be combined with those at La
Junta, Col, Mr.. Ripley said the move
was not an immediate possibility. but
practically admitted that it was con-
sidered. Our theory is that work can
greatest amount to do. and we have
followed this theory as far as possible"
President Ripley announced while
here that the Santa Fe would probably
not be able to enter San Francisco over
it's own tracks much before March l.
1900 Unforeseen difficulties have great
ly delayed the completion of the San
Joaquin Valley line