The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-03
Differences at Shops With Black
smiths Not Adjusted.
Bonus System Question Is Sub
mitted to Kendrick.
TO EXECUTIVE BOARD.
Will Instruct the Local Union
What to Do.
Gossip and Matters OF Interest
in Railroad Circles.

The bonus system now in vogue at
the Santa Fe shops may yet cause con-
siderable trouble if settlement is not
ones most concerned and they are OBJ
jecting most strenuously to the sys-
TEN. Tuesday a committee of three
from the local union together with J.
w. Kline, vice president of the Inter
national Brotherhood of Blacksmiths
and Helpers, waited on John Purcell,
superintendent of the shops, and asked
him concerning the bonus system.
Mr.. Purcell was glad to receive
the committee said Mr.. Kline today.
What we wanted was to find out
about the bonus system and what was
the company's policy in regard to it.
We did not ask for recommendation
that it be done away with. Mr.. Pur-
cell said that regards the system, he
had only to obey the instructions of his
superior officers.
''The bonus system has only been in
stalled in the shops here about a
month and the spring WORKERS are the
ones that are using it the most. Be
fore they accepted this method they
were turning out three and four
springs day and since then they have
been making from seven to nine, prov
ing to me that they have been a set of
loafers heretofore and 1 don't think
the company ought to keep them now.
This bonus system is different from the
premium or the piece system as it
provides extra pay for all work over
certain amount that is considered a
days work. The men seriously object
to working under such a system and
asked the headquarters for instruc-
tons. The executive council consid-
cred the matter and sent me here to
investigate conditions and report.
have made such investiga ton and have
sent my report in to the executive
board which will act upon it accord
ingly. The executive board consists of
the president and secretary and the
i've vice presidents. A conference will
be held with Mr.. Kendrick at Chicago
and the matter will be settled there.
It is out of the local unions hands and
up to the executive board to act. The
men mean business and mean what
they say. 1t is no bluff on their part. -
When asked concerning the strength
of the blacksmiths' union, Mr.. Kline
replied: There are about 165 work
men in the blacksmith shop, of which
number As are blacksmiths, about IS
are helpers, and the remainder are
number probably 100 are union men,
and it is safe, to say that we have
nine-tenths of the blacksmiths and
helpers in the union. One night last
y
and we. are daily adding to our
strength
Mr.. Kline would not say what
would be done if Vice President Ken
drick of the Santa Fe would not grant
the requests of the union, but simply
stated that that would be for the ex-
ecutive board to determine. The
bonus system seems to be similar to
the system which caused the trouble
on the Union Pacific three years ago.
Mr.. Kline was a blacksmith at that
time at Kansas City, and was the first
man to go out, afterwards taking with
him the entire force. The black
smiths walked out at Cheyenne and
Omaha, and after almost three years
the strike was settled, according to the
union men, in their favor.
Superintendent John Purcell said
that the system seemed to be liked
by all the men who had tried it and
that it had proved satisfactory where
it had been tried. He thinks that the
system is a good one and permits the
ambitious man to make more money.
The men seem to hold an opposite
view, however, and ask that the sys-
tenn be done away with, as they say
it will ultimately mean a reduction of
wa