Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1903-10-02

Thts P7sa 60 Keep sstsxzs.s
RN@oes ~ VaRk


he 1onsteaf yellow pine district which
3 couple Of years ago. after studying
the labor problem and the question OF Z
securing sfhcient work from Its crew.
composed largely Of negroes, decided
on radical ohangeCan absolute limo /
Walton as far as we are aware In it,
method OF handling its payroll
Instead of the customary method OF
paying on its hands monthly, semi
monthly, or by checks AZ more frequent
intervals, or daily, 1t concluded to pay
IN cash every night, says the American
Lumberman- It employs timekeeper
for this special purpose, who makes his
rounds twice day, finds out who IS at
work and promptly at six O'Clock on
the blowing Of the whistle, L. behind his
window. with his payroll and cash be-
fore him, ready to attend to the men.
In this particular mill, whose crew Is
large, about thfse-fourthS appear every
night for their money. The only excep-
ton as to the daily payroll Is Friday
night, when, IN order that the weekly
payroll may be figured out properly. no
payment Is made. On Saturday night
Friday nights pay is handed out except
to those who have not worked Saturday.
They must wait until Monday. On Mon
day night payment Is made for both
Saturday and Monday.
In abandoning their former system
Of payment this concern thought it wise
also to abandon the store or commits
sary, though now its members say that
IL they wished to run q store they be-
iieve they could do so as successfully a.
under the old system.
Such a radical change In handling the
payroll will probably be looked at
scornfClly by most OF our southern
readers, yet the members Of this concrn
profess themselves to be not only salts
fed, but highly pleased with the re-
suits. Ali around them their neighbors
are complaining OF lack OF help. Many
mills are running short handed and
there is constant struggle to get hold
Of what men are available and willing
| to work. Efforts are made TO import
help from other states. Yet this con-
Germ turns away men every day. 1t
loses very few Of its men, always has
| full crew and has Its pick Further
more, 1t is able to run every day In the
week. It Is not troubled by men lay
| ing on to recuperate after Sunday or
after the first of the month.
This Il the way that one Of the MEM
heFs Of the concern explains the happy
innovation:
1.-The negro IL q curious creature. He
Is utterly fmprovident and when he gets
money he must spend II at once. The.
less he has to spend the less chancs
there is for him to get drunk and unfit
| for work. Then he Is more contented
when he can Jingle money in his peck
ct every day. As he Is improvident, he
must have either the money or credit to
buy the few things that he absolutely
needs. BY our method he has enough
money to supply his daily wants, but
never accumulates enough for spree.
| Consequently he works practically
every day and works cheerfully and
faithfully"
Experience is worth any amount OF
mere theory and there may be in the
above outline of this method Of hand
| ling the payroll of a southern lumber
manufacturing institution suggestions
Of value to some of our readers. 1t Is
| true that one of the chief advantages
secured-being given the preference by
laboF-would not accrue If all adopted
| the same methods. But there Is little
danger that this will be the case.
In addition to the question Of expe-
! diency, the policy of doing some things
| that would not be desirable or appre-
slated with better class of labor rests
| In this instance on real benefit not
only to the institution Itself but to the
employed. 1t is an adaptation of means
| to ends and of policies to conditions
| that IL worthy of consideration.