The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-02-25

bO01OV, r GU. " ~Ooue Su1 1ouo-
statistician has figured that
the aggregate OF donations and be-
quests to charities and public enter
prises in general has fallen off some
what each year since the beginning Of
the new century. It seems likely that
bis Inference is a mistaken one, based
on only the gifts reported In public
print, while private and anonymous
giving is greatly on the increase. Ger
tainly there are indications that, as a
general proposition, American liberal
ity grows in proportion as the years
60 by.
Hundreds Of thousands of dollars are
given every twelvemonth by great IN
dustrial concerns of this country to
their employees in the form of rewards
for good service and pensions. Andrew
Carnegie's generosity to the employees
Of his steel works, the pension system
of several Of the big railroads, and the
varied extensions of the dayton idea
among manufacturers Of merchandise
are well-known examples. But, posi-
ment Of the Goth century American
spirit is to be found here in Boston,
where one Of the big public service cor
porations has been cited by magazine
writer recently as an example OF the
superiority Of public control over public
ownership, which seems likely to bring
the solution of many problems under
Republican form of government. This
same corporation, the Boston Ele-
waited Railway company, has gradu-
ally evolved during the seven years
since it came into control of practically
the entire transportation system Of the
metropolitan district, in which upwards
of two million and a half people live,
scheme for relationship with it's en-
ployes, Of rewards for work we'll done,
and of pensions for faithful service,
that is being adopted by degrees in
various industries in different parts of
the country.
In the first place, the Boston Ele-
waited company is said to use greater
care in selecting it's men than any other
transportation company in the world.
This it regards as matter Of fairness
to the men themselves, as we'll as to
the public who must come in contact
with them and to it's own interests.
Applicants for employment as conduct
ors or motermen on either surface or
elevated lines-for the company oper-
ates both-are sifted by examinations
as to physical as we'll as other fitness
that are comparab BILE to those required
for getting into the United States SER
vice. No insurance company is more
rigid about the bodily health and the
| UllS VI us VI COA1o Ac4hAAy
history" as the actuary calls it, is not
taken into account in the street car SER
vice, but in some particulars the re-
quirements are more stringent than
those Of any plan of insurance are ever
likely to be. Beyond that, the eye
sight and hearing tests are much more
closely applied to the motormen of the
overhead system here than to the en-
gineers of any American steam rail-
road, certainly.
Having thus made sure of the quail
fications of it's recruits to start with
the management instructs them with
great pains. A training school for mer
| in the overhead service is maintained
| at one of the big terminals and there
are weekly classes not only In the me
chanical details of third-rail electric
train and it's operation, but in the pro-
per way to treat passengers and handle
rush-hour crowds effectively yet civ
lily. This gives them the foundation
: on which to build their own success
and it is significant that the superin
tendents Of every one of the roads ter
divisions are men who have worked W
from the ranks, that all the higher
operating officials began in minor posi-
lions, that even Major-General William
A. Bancroft got his experience year:
ago managing department of one Of
the component companies of the sys
tenn of which he is now president.
The most extraordinary thing apou
it is that every steo the Elevated fa:
taken in dealing with its employees ha:
been voluntary. Though it was alread,
paying the highest scale OF wages IL
this part Of the country for work of thu
sort at the time, it sent it's employees a:
| a New Years greeting, two years ago
notice that thereafter the pay of al
| conductors. mOtOrmen, starters, inspec'
! tors, station masters, collectors anc
! other men who have to do directly witt
the running of cars, would be increased
| five cents day for each five years Of
| service up to fifteen years. Further:
more, it offered a yearly reward OF ST.
! to each employe of this class whose
service has been continuous and salts
factory, including all men who have
! been in the company's employ for si1
months before the end of each year
And. finally, it established d pension
system for the support of aged or in
firm employees who have been continu'
| ously employed by the company fo1
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