The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-17
A Texan Sends 9 Novel Suggestion
for the Employer and Employe
III. Convention.
The Plan Calculated to Encourage
! Permanancy Of Employment at
Satisfactory Wages. -

The national convention Of employer and
employee, whose delegates are to convene
Monday evening, will be the means Of
eliciting scores of suggestions for bringing
about closer and more satisfactory rela-
lions between employers and employees.
A novel idea sent into convention head
quarters from the office of the superin-
tendent of motive power and rolling stock
of the Texas & Pacific Railway company
at Marshall, Texas, by N. Van Vert, Is
the universal wage table. -
Mr.tV Vert believes that the adoption
Of the universal wage table would sys-
tematizet the fixing" of wages and would
prove a boon both to the employer and the
employed. The universal adoption of the
table would reduce to a minimum all con
fusion and strife incident to the adjust
ment Of wages to the great army Of
workers. Each employer and employee
could at a glance see the proper rate. an
hour day, week or month. - ~
The wage table is based on the assump-
ton that workers are equal in their re
spective classes or occupations, and a
schedule of appropriate rates can be easily
constructed to meet the exigencies and
requirements of any occupation. It may
be assumed also III a general way that as
a worker gains in skill and experience his
services become more yaluab1e-. Such be-
ing the case; according to Mr. Van Vert,
his wages without waiting for him to ask
for it. &c. - -. -
In the wage table the youth Of Is years
is eligible for employment and is allowed
the rating for the first year: If he shows
aptitude for the occupation and Is contin-
ued in employ, he is supposed to be. gain
ing in skill and experience, and according
ly his rate is Increased annually without
solicitation: 2-, -, =. =:
The apprenticeship is usually terminated
in from four to five years, when the youth
is considered a "journeyman.' Under or
binary circumstances the young mechanic
does take a journey, and, being at critl-
Cal period in his life, the journey may de-
eide his future veal OF woe. It is just
here that the inducement held out by the
wage table for increasing" wages every
year that he remains in employ may decide
him to forego the journey. The table in
fact perpetua ties the term of apprentice
ship The worker gains in SKILL precision
and experience, and is worthy of the grad
uated increase In his wages as allowed by
the table. The majority of the workers
would be as efficient as ever at so or more
years. ''''' ' 49,
/ MI Van Vert believes that the wage ia
bic would encourage workers to- remain
and build themselves up. There would
be a decrease of strolling workers, as%the
plan is conducive to stability. Another
| inducement would BE for the worker to
+ provide for a rainy day. :, 49,
No worker above 45 Years should be EN-
ployed, but those already employed should
he retained on a gradually decreasing rate
| to the sixty fifth year. when they should
be retired on decreasing rate until the
end. To maintain a hospital and retired
| employees fund, monthly reduction from
| the pay OF every work et should beImade:s
Applicants for employment should pro
duce Authenticated aservice certificates
from former employers showing age, per
sonal description; yearsSfn employ, fetc. Il
satisfactory to the EMPLOYER, the appli'
cant should begin work fat thearate set fol
his. term. Of service for fr1er employers
and he Should be "a esf, from that point. y,
It is Believed, tt1iat this system woule
make the employe solicitous as to his rec.
ord and would have a good influence on his
habits and behavior Nothing is IN thi:
system, Mr.. Van Vert points out, TO pre-
vent the promotion of a worthy and com
petent man; if found Incompetent for pro
motion he may be set backward, OF for
ward if found unusually competent. ~