The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-06-23
Weekly Letter on
Municipal Hffairs
III.-STREET RAILWAY MAN
AGEMENT.
downright 1900. by william S. crandall)


THE street railway company OF Columbus,
Ohio, is the most liberal in the treatment
u Of its employees of any in the country. Had
the management of The St. Louis railway
been as generous it would not have suffered so
great loss by the disastrous strike. Indeed, the
probabilities are there would have been no strike.
The Columbus company distributes turkeys to
its employees on holidays, uniforms once OF Twice
a year according to length of servicc-snd makes
them all copsrtncrs 10y giving them the same
pro rata share OF profits as received by the
stockholders
1t is needless to say this company docs not sui.
fer any loss from strikes. There is too good
feeling between employer and employed TO al
ford any opportunity for the development OF any.
thing serious as strike. This is not to say
the men have no grievances, but rather none
that eliminate seriously. The men are cncour.
aged TO come to the management and state their
wants in an open, manly fashion. And they are
met in the same spirit. II the request be one
which comes within the realm of possibility 1t
is granted IL not, il is denied and a good rea-
son given why it is impossible As an evidence
Of the continuous good.fcllowship prevailing,
there has been serious misunderstanding dur.
ing the life of the company
Every Thanksgiving and Christmas day each
employc is given turkey, ar effort always be.
ing made to graduate the size of the turkey to
that Of tile family. If the single men prefer 1t,
dollar is given TO them instead.
On the initiative OF the company a sick and
death benefit association was organized among
the men. This has been materially assisted by
the company, but is more largely Supported by
the men as a matter of course More than $4,000
have been disburscd during the seven years of
its existence.
The company gave its members a pleasant
surprise on Thanksgiving day, 1897, which
meant moro in value than many turkeys, and as
free.will offering much more than could be
rcckoned in dollars and cents. The following
greeting was sent to each who had been
five years or more in the service of the com.
pany. 1t read follows:
AT this season of the year, when others are
rejoicing in the pleasures of the home festival,
we wish TO express our pleasure and appreciation
OF your labors during the year row drawing to
| close. During many weeks of heavy travel
and crowded streets you have operated your cars
| skllfully, with the result that serious acci-
| dents have been few and personal complaints
rare. While all engaged in this service are On.
titled to their full share Cf credit and we fully
| appreciate their skill and ability, We desire es.
| pccially to remember in a substantial way those
who may he fairly termed veterans in the ser.
vice To this end we will each year present to
| motormen and conductors inspectors and fore.
| men who have been five years in the service oi
| this company, one complete uniform suit and
|
more years, two uniform suits, all Of which viii
be made to order
| "As a badge Of merit, Indicating faithful
| and satisfactory service, the coat sleeve Of each
| fve-ycar man will be decorated with one gold
stripe each tcn.year man with two gold stripes
and so on, adding stripe for each five years
| employment.
at is earnestly hoped that this testimonial
of our good will may be received in the sam,
| in iS ri md thnt al may
take a pust pride in maintaining a high stand
ard of efficiency and the good name and gooC
character of all our employees"
Since the adoption of this regulation about
400 uniforms have been distributed at an ex
pcnse OF 5000.
| The dividend bearing wage next inaugur
atcd by the company. The directors voted t.
make every dollar paid in salaries to the mel
bear the same dividend as might he paid to tn
| stockholdor. This, in sense, made every EN-
| ploye member of the company At any rate j
gave an added feeling of propretorship, whCl
could not fail to produce more efficient ser,lc
ANA promote an esprit de corps" seldom TO b
found among the employees OF a large corporation
The only condition attached is that the prof
sharcr shall have been in the employ of the com
panv for siN months preceding the quarter 70
which the extra compensation may be awarded.
Tho average wage of the "regulars" amount
to SGSj,jG, and of the "extras" to S526 Is pc
year. And the dividends for the year will aggrc
gate $1,000
The apex of corporate generosity for Ancric
would seem to have been reached by this com
rany, hut judging from the past, addtiona
benefits will be sure to follow at occasional in
tcrvalS.
| II is an undiSputed fact that the paid.u
values oi street railway corporations IN tn
United states, when compared with the market
able value of the stock, stands in the sidin
ratio of three to ten. II the corporations wer
not so heavily hurdcned with fictitious valu
there would he possibility Of shal ing in som
of the ltopian conditions which prevail in Eu
rope. For example, the following terms are i'm
posed upon the company which is to construc
and operate system of underground railway
lines in Paris:
The city receives, roughly spanking, onc.thr
of the gross income from the sale of tickets, a
rent for the part of the road which it construct
and Tor the right of way. The company take,
two.thirds for its portion. The conditions whic
the city imposed upon the company in rcgar
to the treatment OF its laborcr and cmployt
are extremely interesting, and indicate the higl
water mark attained by modern cities in this II
Spect' The more important OF these condition
are contained in the following provisions Of III
agreement between the city and the tractio
company:
Street Railway Management and Statistics
and employees shall be paid fortnightly, and sha
IN no case he less than $50 francs per month
:, One tull day of lest or two full half.la,
shall he granted each week to the personnel
3' An annual vacation OF ten days, with fu
salary, shall he granted TO all employees.
I. The full salary shall he paid during IL
+, periods OF military Instruction.
.. Days OF sickness, properly certified by Il
physician appointed by the manager Of the fun,
shall he paid for in iull without any dcductic
, during the period Of at least one year
! H. In case of accident happening during woI
and resulting in a temporary incapacity II
workmcn shall receive their entire wages UNI
a complete recovery, without prejudice 70 the il
demnity which shall be due to them in case
, final disability either total or partial
l. The worhmcn employed in the enterpri
} shall he insured against accident at the sole co
5 | Of the leasing company, which shall not und
, this head make any deductions from the wag
I |