The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-02-25
How the Twentieth Century Spirit Changing Industrial Con-
ditions- Rewards Pensions and General Hepfuness the
Key Notes A Street Railways Striking Example

of sixty after fifteen continuous years
employment. The pensions are usually
$25 a month and are paid during the
pensioners life.
The order in which these sweeping
increases were made also provided that
men who were "breaking in" as con-
ductors or motormen on the surface
cars, Or as brakemen on the elevated
trains, should be paid a dollar a day
during their period Of learning, to go
On the regular scale of wages as soon as
they were put regularly to work. And
1t was agreed that new or extra" men
should receive about two-thirds pay
whether they were actually out on the
platform of car or not, provided they
reported for duty at tn n car houses,
and remained there during the pre-
scrfbed hours; If they do a full days
work they, of course, receive full pay.
The annual report of the company
shows that last year learners were
given $23,226, the minimum wage fund
OF the extra men came to $28, 953, the In
creased compensation for long service,
in addition to the regular pay, footed
up $58,374, the annual good service re-
were nearly s., 00ossk This revision 81
wages increased the payroll $173,985 In
this one year, which alone is fine adj
dttion to the years gifts, for it may be
egarded as one of them, the men to
whom the money went receiving their
regular wages besides.
It is favorite charge Of the foreign
er that Americans measure everything
by dollars and cents but if any refuta-
ton of such an absurd accusation were
needed it would be found in the case of
these same men. That they appreciate
| their extra pay there is no doubt, Of
course; but it is equally beyond ques-
ton that they appreciate as much the
interest the company takes otherwise
| corporation appropriates every year
about $1,000 toward the support Of the
two benefit associations among it's en-
| ployes; It provides reading matter and
other comforts in the lobbies Of the diff
| ferent carbarns; it supervises the max.
ing Of all its uniforms which the men
themselves buy, of course-setting GER
| tain standards for the manufacturers
| and having every piece Of goods and
every suit examined and inspected to
| see that it falls below In no respect,
even looking to the fit Of coat or
hat or an ulster. During the coal fam
! inc two years ago, the Elevated COM
pany imported fuel by the shipload, and
sold it to its men at cost; in fact it
shaved the price so closely that it lost
money on the transaction.
There are two features of this rela-
tionship that are particularly interest
ing. They both have to do with assist
| ing employees who are in distress, one
by providing them with free advice
from the legal department, the other
by coming to their rescue with practi-
cal, substantial aid-money even, in ex-
IRENE cases. The corporation has q
signment of his wages without first
consulting his superior. This is done
in some measure to discourage unjusti-
fable extravaganza, no doubt, but
largely to protect the men, many OF
whom get their first experience with
city life when they enter the street cal
service, coming from smaller towns OF
New England. There are times, OF
course, when conductor or motorman
finds himself in hard financial straits
just as anybody else does. If he is OBJ
liged to borrow. he consults with an
official at headquarters who, if he
thinks it wise that the man should as
sign his wages as security, makes sure
that at least he is not falling into the
hands of INSCRIPTIONS money lenders
And, when the loan has been negotia-
ted, there is always the same advisor
and back of him the legal department
to appeal to if difficulties arise or un.
fair collections are attempted. Once ir
while there comes to the notice of the
roads officials, through these friendly
Investigations, case Of unusual dis
tress, and then it is the policy Of the
management to 60 to the rescue itself
Very likely 1t is this spirit of friend
Illness which the Elevated management
understands perfectly well to be good
business as we'll as good ethics, that
has developed in Boston what has beer
called the finest body of street car men
anywhere, and that has given the city
a transportation service generally &C.
knowledged to be as nearly ideal as il
to be found anywhere today. At any
rate, when an attempt was made to or
ganize the men into a union, couple
Of years ago, 1900 of them met of their
own accord outside of working hours
and sent the management resolutions
expressing their appreciation of It.
fairness and generosity and satisfaction
with things just as they were.
S. I. Levin. importer OF wines and H.