The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-02
RAILROAD PENSIONS.

The man who gives the better part Of his
life TO a business in which others profit by
his labor is entitled to liberal consideration
in bis old age. II one take the risk of private
venture in the hope Of winning fortune he
must also take the risk Of failure and when
he is no longer able to conduct his affairs
he has no just appeal to any particular in
terest for sustenance, He must look to so
clety at large for charity.
But men or institutions that pay for serv' /.
leo make profit upon the labor of their
employees, and II they succeed in the long
run it is common fairness Tor them to return
to the aged servant during the period OF his
unftnese something of the profit they have
made upon his labor
/ Besides the assurance that such return
will be made is bound to insure better and
more faithful service The employee feels
that he is not TO be cast aside when his
usefulness is over, that there is no occasion
for him to divide his energies by earning
extra money outside OF his regular vocation
or by overtime, and consequently he can
give to the business he has undertaken the
full measure Of his ability
These are recognized principles in the
government service. and they should long
ago have been applied to private enterprises,
With the establishment Of great railroad sys-
TENS. employing armies of men who give
their lives TO the calling. it is more and
more apparent that liberal pensions should
be allowed, for with consolidation competI-
J. ton is lessened and new avenues of labor
/ are closed with many rival railroads in
3. the same state or section bidding for talent
S and service, men can afford to take chances
J. Of profitable employment, but with present
Y conditions practically eliminating rivalry the
t average employe must accept what is offered
r II the pay and the terms of service are not
d reasonably liberal We may expect discomfort
and hardship or murmuring and disturbance
It In recognition of these plain truths Of so
o cial equity and business prudence the Penn
10 sylyania railroad, the Illinois Central anC
Up the Chicago and Northwestern recently in
augurated pension systems for their aget
y employees, ana now Mr. Il. II, Hartman o
r the Southern Pacific and other roads an
ot nouuces n similar bounty for all the line
n he controls Employees who have attane
or the age OF 10 years or more are to be retire.
lie and will receive pensions on the basis of
n. per cent per annum of the average sular
Mt received for ten years prior to retiremen
ly for each year of service For instance. a
n employee whose pay averages $1,000 per al
mum for ten years prior to retirement an
who had been in the service of the compan
thirty years. would receive pension eQu;
to 80 per cent OF $1,000, or $500 per annun
so Between the ages Of 81 and 20. employees II
IN capacitated for further work may be +
nd tired by a pension board selected from III
ell department officers OF the company, pr
81 vided they shall have been in the serviC
nj twenty years or more. The employees mai
es no contribution to the fund, the pension
to- being paid by the company in full and wit
out any conditions, the employees being
m liberty to engage in other business after b
cy ing pensoned, should they SEQ ft
ed Such acts as this are evidence OF a MOI
an liberal spirit pervading the world OF wealt
and lend encouragement to the hope TIL
ln soon we may be able TO solve in approxima
me fairness the vexatious problem Of capital al
In labor, Stil, It must be remarked that rio
ice men have been painfully slow in coming
len a realization OF their obligations.
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