The evening times., 1900-03-06

Us
As may be supposed, railway managers have not
seen this constant reduction without serious CON
cern, or without making strenuous efforts to check
the downward movement These efforts have
met with but little success, and although no
commercial necessity has recently existed for
such reductions, and certainly not during the
past year, when the industries of the country
enjoyed prosperity almost Unprecedented, ana
when the facilities of the railways were taxed
To the utmost the fall in rates has still CON
tinued. Had the railway companies not been
able to meet the diminution in the ton-mlle rate
by corresponding reduction IN expenses dlsas-
trous results must have followed. But there IS
a limit, and il cannot be far OF, TO the possibie
leSsening of the cost of movement Inc only
alternative is to arrest the reduction IN revenue,
which has been largely brought about by aP-
parcnty uncomfortable conflicts between the rall-
way companies, and between rival communities
Ii must be admitted that the situation Is COM
plicatod. The problems involved in dealing with
traffic questions covering vast a territory, and
affecting so many diversified interests. are trouble
some and intricate, but they are not incapable
OF solution, and il Is believed that by earnest
and united effort the difficulties in the way may
be met and overcome. With this end IN yew
and to establish closer relations between the man
ayers Of the trunk lines, 1t has seemed wise 10
your Board to acquire an interest IN some OF the
RAILWAYS reaching the seabOard, and 10 unite
with the other shareholders who control those
properties in supporting conservative pollcy'
This will, il is hoped, result IN securing reason
able and stable rates and do away with unjust
Determinations that the inevitable results OF
the that has heretofore been pursued.
Aside from the indirect benefits thus sought 10
be gained, it is believed that these holdings will
as investments be directly profitable.
The contract with the Puilmans Palace Car
Company under which Its equipment was run on
your passenger trains, being about TO expire, a
and satisfactory agreement was concluded
with that Company, taking effect January !, 1900,
and running for fifteen yeaTs, under which ma
terial saving in expenses will inure your benefit
The two ferry companies operating between
Philadelphia and Camden were consolidated dur
ing the last year into the Philadelphia and Cam
den Feuy Company, thus securing a more eco
nomica and effective service and further strength
sning the financial condition OF the property
After careful consideration Tor a number OF
ycaIs a Pension Department has been created,
having for it's object the retirement from service
of all officers and employees who have attained
the age Of seventy years, or who, beng between
the ages of sxtyhve and seventy years. shall
have been thirty years in service and be physl-
Cally disqualified. The pension allowance II based
uEon length of service and average pay during
the ten years preceding retirement, and the
sum of s220, 900 per annum Il fixed as the maxi
amount Of the Companys annual payment.
In connection with the establishment Of this
department., the Relief Fund assumes the pay
ment Of all benefits tu its members, and thus re-
lievcs the Company from the annual disburses
ment Of considerable sum heretofore paid out
of its treasury TO employees who, having received
benefits from the Fund for over ttty-tvo weeks,
had no longer any claim thcreupon-
In order to insure far practicable that en-
necessary for the performance OF their duties, II
has also been determined that, except in certain
specified eases where the interests OF the Com
pany clearly require II, no person who Is over
thirty FIVE years OF age shall be taken into the
service. Resolutions covering the action OF the
Board concerning these matters will be presented
with this report for the action Of the share
holders.
In consequence Of the adoption Of the p5nsion
schedule. MT. George W. J. Ball. Chief Con
vevaucer. and Mr. J. A. Anderson. Superintcnd-
3 IL, Dv1, 10th arN
honuraby connected with the lines Of your syS-
TEN, placed the retired list, January /,
1900 Mr.. Bail had been associated with the
Transportation, Traffic Legal, and Real Estate
Departments Of the Company for over thirty eight
years and in his position especially Chief Con
veyancrr had rendered invaluable service in solv-
ing the many complicated questions affecting the
titles to your property. Mr Anderson had been
over fifty years in service, from has employment
in lS4s A. a rodman in the location Of the Bel
vidcre Delaware Railroad 70 his promotion in
1872 10 be Superintendent Of that Division his
appointment a. Superintendent Of the Voluntary
Relief Department in January. 1886, and his sery
ice such until his retirement. He had had
practical charge Of the administration of that de
partment during that period, and had performed
the eNacting duties growing out Of the disburse-
ment Of a amounting yearly TO about
three-quarters OF million Of dollars, with signal
ability and success
Mr.. Holmes d. Ely promoted TO be SupeTin-
tendent of the Voluntary Relief Department, and
Mr. Matthias Homer. Assistant Superintendent
thereof The office Of Chief Cenvcyanrer having
been abolished and the position Of Assistant Real
Estate Agent created. Mr. benjamin W. Carskad-
don was appointed to the latter position.
The Board have 10 record the death OF one OF
their oldest and most hOnored members, Mr.
Alexander Biddie. May ,, lS'9 Mr.. Blddlc
had been Director OF the Company since March
"a 1874, and during his long connection there
with had given il the benefit OF ms wise counsel,
ripe judgment. and long experience. HIS stain
less integrity, conscientious discharge OF duty,
and high courage for him the warm regard
Of his associates, who lost valued colleague and
true friend.
the Board, May 10. 1879, 10 nil The vacancy
caused by Mr. Biddle's death
On the 9Th Of June the Company also lost by
death its President. Mr.. Prank Thomson, in the
Jsth year OF his Mr.. Thomson's illness,
which contracted while inspecting the lines
Of your Western system, may thus seem 10 have
fttingly closed career devoted to Your service.
Having entered the shops at Altoona as an
apprentice when but seventeen yoaTs old, he had,
with the exception Of the period spent in the
Military transportation Department Of the Gov
eument during the civil war. given his active
life 10 the Company. Appointed as Superintend-
ent of the Eastern Division Of the Philadelphia
and Erie Railroad in 1864. he was successively
Superintendent OF Motive Power Of your Com
pany, its General Manager. Second and Eirst Vice
President until February 3, 1884, when he was
elected President. His connection with the Trans
pOrtation Department was marked by mastery
of the problems connected with the Improvement
OF the motive power. and the establishment OF
high standard for the construction and main
tenance Of track; while his duties Chief Of the
Traffic Department, and in direct charge Of the
relations with connecting lines, had especially
fitted him 10 meet the complicated questions grow
ing out of the competition of rival and
ficting interests Mr.. Thomson was untiring in
the performance of duty, and in placing record
their appreciation of the exceptional ability,
sound Judgment and fidelity with which he per
formed the trusts confded 10 him, the Board
desire also to pay deserved tribute to the charm
ing personal traits that the affection and
esteem of his associates.
Mr. Alexander j. CaSatt, member of your
Board, was, on the 9th of June. elected President
10 succeed Mr.. Thomson, and Mr.. James McCrea
elected to fill the vacancy in the Board.
In accordance with the revised organization
adopted June Il. the Office of First Assistant to
the President having been abolished, Mr.. Samuel
Res elected an additional member of the
Board to act Fourth Vice President
Mr.. Charles A. Chipley having, the lst OF
May, after nearly twenty years of faithful and
eXacting service in the Freight Department OF
the Company, resigned his position General
Freight Agent III charge Of local traffic. and the
organization having been further amended Mr..
John B. Thayer, ir, was appointed General
Freight Agent, and Mr.. George ID. Dixon, Assist
ant General Freight Agent
Mr. William J. Latta, who had been connected
with the transportation Department OF the Com
pany for nearly thirty years, and had filled the
responsible position of General Agent Phla-
delphia since July l, 1883, with signal ability
and advantage 10 the service, having resigned
August 81, ls99 TO engage in other pursuits, that
position was abolished and the jurisdiction of
Mr.. D. II. Lowell, Superintendent of the Philadel
pha Terminal Division, extended TO embrace the
duties formerly devolving upon the General Agent.
Mr.. A. J. Gillingham appointed Auditor
of Passenger Receipts, November /; Mr.. Samuel
Anderson, Assistant Auditor Of Passenger Receipts:
Mr.. Henry C. McKeever, Assistant Auditor Of
Freight Receipts; and Mr.. Edward A. Stockton,
Assistant Auditor of Disbursements.
Provision having been made for two Assistant