The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-05-07

care OF diSIDlcd faithful cnl
| ployes is a proper charge upon it's SER
| vice is the Illinois Central Railway
company, which, ON July | next, will
institute pensioh system even more
| liberal than some already in operation
On number uf other American "ail.
roads
Years ago this railroad took . for
ward stride toward cultivating q
wholesome sense of the community OF
interests between employer and en-
ployes by enabling it's employees to ac-
quire stock in the corporation The
experiment worked We'll and it was not
uncommon for engineers and brakcmen
to participate in the cOmpany'S annual
stockholders meetings, where they in
yariably received respectful and attcn-
tive consideration.
But now the road goes further. Here
after, officers and employees between
the ages of SiXtN-one ana seventy who
have become incapaCitatod fur any
cause and who have been ten years in
the service of the company may be re-
the pension ranges all the way from 10
tu 80 per cent. of the salary, depending
upon the time the cmployc has been in
the service. An engineer, under this
SYSTEM whose average pay was Sl2, Il
month would get, after thirty years
service, $3.50 a month pension. or $3.50
Il year, and other employees are to get
pensions in proportion. the percentage
of salary varying from 10 to - accord
ing to term of service.
To start with, the company makes a
cash gift of $25O,0OOO to the pension
fund. In addition it agrees to pay any
amount needed for the pensions UP to
100000 each year. If he annual pen-
sion allowance runs beyond his figure
then. and then only, the original S25U,
O"U will be touched. If tho $2jO. 100 is
exhausted the company reserves the
privilege of altering the schedule of
payments. 50 that the burden shall not
increase to too great size. As To the
employees who get pensions. there are
included i'll the first place all men over
seventy years of aSc, who have been
ten years i'll the service of the road.
Retirement at the age Of seventy is
made compulsory for all officers and
employees. In the case of locomotive
fremen, engineers. conductors. 1lagmon
and brakenen, train baggage men.
yardmasters sWitchnen, bridge fore
men. section foremcn aud supervisors.
IL Ia.
five, ana if they have been ten wears
in service they will he pensioncd. OIL
GERS and employees between the ages of
siNty-one and seventy who have be-
come incapacitated for any cause and
who have been ten years i'll the service
may be retired and pensioncd. Where
men have been gone on Il leave of alb
scncr, suspension, dismissal. followed
by reinstatement within one year, or
were temporarily laid off OH account OF
reduction of the force, when unattend-
cd by other employment, that is not
considered break in the continuity.
The Illinois Central is also liberal in
another respect, Most roads now re-
fuse to employ rev men over thirty
five years of age. 1t applies this rule
to Inexperienced men, but where the
applicant for employment has had en-
perience, the age limit is put at forty
five years. Says President Fish: The
road has row between 10000 and 80, 600
employees, half the size Of the United
States army, and all active workers.
They must be kept 10 high efficiency.
Conditions are more arduous every
year. Wages are higher and stability
of employment greater. To keep the
force in the best condition. We want a
penson system"
Cnnuestionabl this practical form of
business-ihe good will 10 the insuu-
mcntS of business success is bound to
grow in favor among employers ana a
time will come when no honeet worker.
overtaken while on duty by arCi en- or
not due 10 personal sauit,
need fear that he will be tossed aside
as human wreck for whom nobody
cares,