The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-27
THE SCRANTON TR1BUNE-sATURDAY DECEMBER "a 1902

inauguration of per diem, car service re.
ceived an impetus and support by all
| lines that enabled it to secure O. much
more prompt release Of cars than hereto
fore. In addition to this, our increased
| facilities at large terminals have reduced
| delays to equipment by reason Of being
able to release more cars per day; fur
ther, the abolishlng of intermediate train
terminals, or, In other words reducing
the number OF points at which trains stop
Tor shaping up. etc. has correspondingly
reduced the opportunities for delays,
which In turn assists In decreasing the
detention to foreign cars on our rails.
The foregoing shows that during the op-
GRAFTON of per diem the Lackawanna rail-
road had greater proportion of it's own
cars and less number of foreign cars
on Its own road than under mileage set
Elements; thus owners are enabled to have
larger amount of their own equipment
at their own command. which Is very de-
sirable at all times and which is the main
object desired by tho operation Of this
SYSTEM
Matter Of Earnings.
Next In Importance is the matter of the
earnings resulting from freight car hire
by foreign lines, In connection with which
l desire to state that the amount earned
by foreign equipment on the Lackawanna
railroad for the months OF July, August,
September and October this year, is two
and one-half per cent. less than what we
would have paid on the same equipment
had We settled on the mileage basis. We
are unable to give the figures for the
month Of November ns they have not as
yet been compiled. We are also unable
to furnish a like comparison regarding
the earnings of Lackawann cars on for
eign roads. for the reason that the mile
age has not been furnished us.
MT, ,,tn St,,k 1, =
on foreign roads for the months of July
to October, inclusive, of this year. sixteen
and one-quarter per cent. less L,acka-
wanna cars than for the corresponding
months OF the previous year, our earn
ings for these cars are only seven per
cent less under per diem. Tho figures for
November are not furnished for the same
reason they were omitted agove. If am
correctly informed. the increased earnings
are not the result of excessive per diem
charges; it is understood that the present
rate was very largely determined on the
ground that it was practically the general
average earning per day per every freight
car under tho mileage basis of settlement.
Aside from the results shown, the JUS
tice OF settlement of freight car hire for
an agreed amount per each and very day
a car is on u foreign line should appeal
to everyone having the proper conception
of property rights, for the reason that
the owner of any property should GER
tainly be entitled to an accounting for the
use of his property and this result is OBJ
tanned under this system: under the mile
age system there was no check what
ever, the owner having no alternative but
to accept as being correct the ngures rem
dered him by the borrower as the earn
ings Of his cars. There is now a sys-
tematic check being kept in every car
service or accounting office Of all conf
pany cars off the line and the car owner
at the end of each month knows definitely
the earnings of his cars while on foreign
lines. which is not only busincss-likc but
more satisfactory.
Some Other Things.
There are one or two other things which
the system has brought about which 1
wish to present. 1t has awakened the
liveliest appreciation in all the depart
ments of railroad work of the Importance
of the prompt handling of equipment and
the money value incident thereto; in a
general way it has resulted in closer rela.-
tionship between the car service officer
and the other departments, first, with Of
ticers in charge of freight traffic. relative
to the application Of Per Diem Rule No.
) regarding reclaims ON switching SER
vice; second, with the car department in
regard to the application of rules and
regarding exemptions from per diem
owing to disabled cars, etc, and III like
with all other departments-which
is decidedly beneficial to the car service
officer, such association being conducive
to his enlightenment as we'll as broaden
ing his views.
Taking the proposition in its entirety
we can but be impressed with the sue
cessful manner in which it has been ap-
piled, moro particularly in view of the |
many obstacles that 1t was anticipated
would be encountered before its success
could be assured. There is a prevailing |
impression that some few of the rules |
might be modified or changed for the |
betterment of the service, possibly in the |
elimination of rule No. 5 regarding re-
claim and the adjustment of u switching |
charge so as to protect the switching |
lines to the extent that reclaim now does. |
Perhaps a penalty for the diversion Of |
cars would be beneficial. Again, there I
are some who feel that rule No. 3 could |
be changed so as to waive the necessity |
for penalty notices, establishing instead |
an automatic penalty to be applied in
the absence of advice from the owner to
the contrary.
In conclusion. j wish to say that not
the many interests affected
BY the change from mileage to the per
iiem basis of settlement. the change has
oeen made with practically no interrupt
ion, showing conclusivey that the franz
IFS of the rules had not only studied every
phase of the matter but have applied 4
set of rules that are decidedly easy of
execution, for which they are entitled to
he thanks OF all car service men.