The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-01
PAY DAY EVERY NIGHT.
One Way of Getting Work Out Of
Shiftlcss Negroes.
American Lumberman.

American Lumberman.
There is a certain sawmill concern in the
longleaf yellow pine district which q couple
of years ago, after studying the labor prob
lem and the question OF securing efficient
work from its crew, composed largely OK
negroes, decided ON a radical change-an
absolute innovation as far as we are aware
in its methods of handling it's payroll.
Instead OF the customary method of pay
ing off it's hands monthly, semi-monthly,
or by checks at more frequent intervals.
or daily, 1t concluded to pay in cash every
night. 1t employs a timekeeper for this
special purpose . VINO makes his rounds s
promptly at O'Clock on the blowing of
the whistle, IS behind his window. with his
payroll and cash before him, ready to at
tend to the men. In this particular mill,
whose crew is large. about three-fourths
appear every night for their money. The
only exception as to the daily payroll is
Friday night, when, in order that the
weekly payroll may be figured out proper
ly, no payment is made: On Saturday
night Fridays pay Is handed out except
to to, those who have We, not worked SATURDAY:
night payment is made for both Saturday
and Monday.
In abandoning their former system Of
payment this concern thought 1t wise also
to abandon it's store or commssary, though
now it's members say that If they wished
TO run store they believed that they could
do SO as successfully as under the old sys-
tenn.
Such a radical change in handling the
payroll will probably be looked at scorn-
fully by most OF our Southern readers, vet
the members of this concern profess them
selves to be not only satisfied but highly
pleased with the results. All around them
their neighbors complaining of lack of
help. Many mills are running short handed
and there is a constant struggle to get hold
of what men are available and willing to
work. Efforts are made 70 import help
from other States. Yet this concern turns
away men every day. 1t loses very few of
its men, always has full crew and has its
pick. Furthermore. it is able TO run every
day in the week. IT is not troubled by men
LAYING off to recuperate after Sunday or
after the first of the month.
This is the way that one of the members
of this concern explains the happy effect of
the innovations:
THE negro is curious creature. He
is utterly improvident and when he gets
money he must spend 1t at once. The less
he has TO spend the less chance there is for
him 10 get drunk and unfit for work. Then
he is more contented when he can Jingle
money in his pocket every day. AS he is
improvident, he must have either the
money or credit 10 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 handling the pay
roll of a Southern lumber manufacturing
institution suggestions or value TO some OF
our readers 1T is true that one of the
chief advantages secured-being given the
preference by labor-would not accrue if
all adopted the same methods. But there
is little danger that this will be the case.
In addition TO questions OF expediency,
the policy OF doing some things that would
not be desirable or appreciated with bet