The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-12
RAILROAD NEWS.
Mr.. w. 0. NeYilI Replies to
Claim Agent Richards.
Rock Island Man Disagrees
With Northwestern Official.
EMPLOYMENT OF MEN.
Present System Is All Right
Says Mr.. NeYill.
Contends That Discipline Is the
Important Feature.

In the late issue of the Railway Age,
Mr.. W. o. Nevill, chief clerk to Super
intendent w. H. Stilwell, of the Rock
Island, in Topeka, replies to the re-
cent article of r. c. Richards, claim
agent of the Chicago & Northwestern
road, an extract of which was printed
in the State Journal Mr.. Richards
article was on 1.-The Systematic Selec-
ton of Employees and was a plea for
the establishment of a joint railroad
employment agency in Chicago of COM
petent judges of human nature. In
his reply Mr. NeviH says:
1.-THE article on The Systematic Sc
lection of Employees by Mr.. Richards,
which appeared in your issue of Feb
ruary %, was read with much inter
est, and must say frankly that I do
not think the ideas he advances are
either theoretically or practically good.
The responsibility of employing men
has never been part of my duties dur
ing my fifteen years experience in the
operating department of a great rail
way system. But during that time I
have been closely allied with the en-
ployes necessary to properly conduct
such a department, and in my expert
ence in keeping a detailed record of
men, do not recall such a demoralized
condition of the capabilities and char
acterS of the employees as Mr. RICH
ards pictures, but quite the reverse
LAS he fears that such grave respon-
sibility is too often left to clerk or
subordinate Official l trust it would
not be too preSuming in the clerk to
make a few remarks, inasmuch as he
seems to stand on level with the claim
agent so far as employing men is con-
cerned.
1T is quite evident that Mr. Richards
has not thoroughly posted himself on
the manner and customs of the vari-
Gus railroads in the employment of
men. Had he done so, he would not
come forward asking the solution OF
a problem which has undergone COM
plete revolution during the past lew
years. I dare say that none of the
great questions that have come before
railway managers in recent years has
received q. more earnest consideration
than the employing and CiSciplining OF
their employees. I believe I can say,
without exaggeratfOn, that nine tenthS
of the railways have adopted new and
stringent rules bearing on this sub
ject, which leave little room for i'm
provement- The 'old-timer' who a few
years ago, could secure a position on
any system and as often as he desired
is today entirely barred.
1.-THE mental and physical condition of
applicants on a majority of up-to-date
systems is thoroughly prObed by a re-
sponsible physician. There should be
no fears from that direction. The
morals and capabilities of the employe
receive equally close attention by the
heads of the departments employing
them. Many systems have gone even
farther and adopted an age limit, shut
ting out the young and inexperienced
as well as the old and inffrm-
81 fear Mr.. Richards employing
I e-31,s1 <0f
immense proportions should he under
take to employ all the men necessary
to run an operating department. He
does not explain how he is to corral
and hold the 'clean-cut, nervy and am
bilious young men, many samples OF
which class he would be compelled to
hold in stock, pending a call to serv-
ice. 1 fear he would find that nerve
and ambition would not remain long
on an uncertainty. The employment of
men is best in the hands of that official
who meets with the men in the daily
| performance of their duties, and in
that way alone can he best judge their
qualifications A mans general char
acter family relations, recommends
lions, etc. all point favOrably to his
| being a desirable man for efficient ser
| vice, but his employer is not confident
until his mettle has been tested.
1.-The Importance of equipping a rail-
road with good, reliable, trustworthy
Il
them, as in the proper discipline after
once in the service. I believe in civil
service, all things being equal. and
there is nothing that will bind the en-
pIoye and employer more closely than
to make the latter feel that he will re-
ceive due recognition and that there is
no co-laborer with pull who will be
given the preference, or that there will
be no new man imported to receive the
/ deserved promotion. I believe the Brown
system of discipline will make greater
strides in the direction that Mr.. Rich
/ ards wishes to accomplish than the
| theory he advances. Under this form
| of discipline, every employee stands on
| equal footing; he is credited for meri-
torious services and demerited for poor
service. His standing is always be-
fore the eyes of his employer as well as
| himself. With such a system there can
be no lunatics, lawbreakers, idiots, drug
| fiends or ignoramuses in the employ of
! an up-to-date railway system