Morris tribune., 1903-09-12
A RAIL WAYS NEW MOVE
Erie Roads Plan to Promote
Its Employees.
AN AGE LIMIT AGREED UPON,

L
Requested to Resign-Action TAX
en- to Protect old Men.
The Erie railroad has promulgated
an order calling for the designations Of
all clerks recently engaged who at the
age Of thirty-five have not advanced,
says the New York American.
The designations must be forwarded
to the offices Of the company within a
| few days, because the officials feel that
there is no chance for men who at
thirty-fve have not demonstrated their
executive ability.
The men who are doomed to leave
are those who have entered the COM
pany's employment since May 1, 1901,
and in an apologize way the officials
say that there are comparatively few
who will be affected. IN the future,
however, no man who has reached the
age limit will be given employment in
the clerkship grade by the big railroad.
"Men who have become thirty-f
| without succeeding at something else
have little chance to take up railroad
work." is the explanation of Secretary
Granville A. Richardson.
President Underwood, however, does
not put it in the same way. He says:
'The road owes a duty to men in its
employ for the major part Of their
lives. 1t is constantly making provision
for these men. 1t is an injustice to
them to- have men who have seen
,, their best days in other lines enter our
employ. 1t is to protect our old en-
ployees that the order is issued. 1t is
fair to assume that man who has
worked at some other business for the
better part of his life is too we'll
grounded to be of special value to
railroad company. The aim is to en-
ploy young men who wish to make rail
roading their business.
! "The employment and training OF
railroad employees is great problem,
which can best be appreciated by those
who are frequently the victims of bad
Judgment in railroad offices. This is
what we are trying to remedy" said
Secretary Richardson.
''We do not say that man who has
been in the railroad business for some
years is useless at thirty-fve if he has
not advanced, for he has at least learn
ed the routine. The fact that he is still
in the business, however, shows that
there has been some defect in the sys-
tenn that kept him when he was young.
He should have been dropped long be-
fore.
"Railroading principles should be
taught while the brain is young. The
younger the better and in the future
any man who asks us for employment
will have to give very strong explana-
ton Of why he has failed in other ca
pacities if he is anywhere near thirty
five
"Our idea now is to get as many
bright young boys as possible to go on
the lowest rounds of the ladder to ad-
vance the others to the vacancies that
will be made. By always having good
material at the bottom it will be possi-
BILE to advance the various grades as
the good jobs at the top are opened, in
stead of going to other companies to
get high salaried men while our own
wonder why it happens that way.
"First, we want to protect our old
men, and, secondly, make it unneces-
sary to go to other Offices for good en-
ployees."
In view of this action of the Erie it
is interesting to note the men who
hi Of hn
of thirty-five
julius Caesar was thirty-nine years
old before he received his first impor-
tant military command.
Oliver Cromwell was very unimpor-
tant figure until he was nearly forty,
when he girded on the armor which a
few years later began to identify him
with England's history.
Christopher Columbus was nearly
forty when he went to Ferdinand and
Isabella with his plan for the discov-
cry of new continents, and it was not
until he was forty-six that he started
on his voyage.
General Grant was town character
in the west until he was almost forty.
George Washington had settled back
into the indolent life of a Virginia
planter when, at forty-two, he was
called upon to undertake the great
work which resulted in our freedom.
Admiral Farragut was still navy
captain at fifty four, and it was in the
later years of his life that he became
distinguished admiral
At forty Lord Nelson had done little
and was involved personally and po-
litically, yet seven years after he died
on the deck of the Victory one Of Eng
lands most famous men.
William the Conqueror was forty
when he was crowned king Of Eng
land, and he afterward earned his title.
Napoleon at forty and in the fve
subsequent years of his life was at the
height of his career.
Martin Luther was thirty eight be-
fore the world began to hear from him
in way that changed religious his
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