Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-01-07


in a book entitled ellis Personal Re
ord. F." which is to be issued this nOntl
It's author Is William J. Pinkertor
foreman Of switching crew here, an
contributor for years to railwa
Journals.
. Eighteen years continuous servic
} in railroad work have furnished bin
the basis Of the book II is said tina
since Pinkerton's plans became pub
lie he has been offered by a high rail
way official great inducements not Il
publish the work. He declined
The work is particularly timely il
view Of the unprecedentedly largt
number Of fatal wrecks this year.
The age limit aud unreasonable
standard of physical examination, the
writer claims, are directly responsible
for the appalling increase in railroad
disasters. He says:
Thirty-eight years is the average
standard age limit of most Of the great
railway corporations Of the United
States. One who has lost his position
through resignation or discharge in
many Of the departments on all the
lbig systems is barred from further EN-.
ployment at the vocation at which he
has spent the morning Of his life, il his
age is above the limit.
"Publie safety demands caution, and
caution is synonymous with youth,
clear eyes and clear brains, say the rail.
way capitalists. And the public feels
little ripple Of gratitude, an electric
thrill Of safety up its back, and snug.
giles confidently against the cushions.
But wait minute.
alt shall be the province Of this
book 10 tell where the age limit is un-
just, wherein II work hardships and yuf
fering. drives men TO criminal prae.
tiees, destitution and suicide, and sac.
ri6ces the public because ineKpeyienee
Ia cheaper in the labor market than ex.
perienee--cheaper for the capitalist
who buys
"lt is not generally known that all
the great railways have systems Of
espionage and bureaus of information,
interchangeable and unlimited in
scope, through which every act Of the
employees life is traced, tabulated, and
in time arrayed against him; that an
applicant for a position in tho traffic
service Of railroad must fill out
record blank covering his en-
tire life, and must, in many eases, file
a tintype photograph Of himself--a tin
type because Il cannot be retouehed.
and because il will show all facial
blemishes and marks which surgery at
some future time might remove.
1.-The candidate for employment on
! railway is subjected TO a more rigid /
than recruit in the Uni |
ed States army. Give the railway 8
medical examiner-in some cases
from the bench Of machine
medical college, good animal, sound
4 wind and limb and hesh from the
Iandles OF the plow and he will not
hump the applicant for hollow sound.
sut the veteran railway man, with the
Up Of hnger missing since he made
coupling one night las, winter, is
brown upon the rubbish heap undone
Y his experience
"rhe writer objects not to a reason.
bic examination for color blindness
nd hearing. but enters emphatic pro.
'st against the universal practice OF
lese greedy powers for disposing OF
10 veteran before he shall become a
ibicet for participation in the various
''called relief funds.
millions Of dollars are collected In
'Spi,al and pension fund assessments
: the railway companies Of the United
ates Not onetcnth Of this money is
.cr expended, and u Is not charged
at the railway companies do not ful. n
I their obligations Bat by Kidding A
emselves OF old employees and taking Z
in their places men who are less LA. 4
. 10 present claims Tor assistance. ii
ey have the millions FOR use ia the
oseeutien of their business.
They are Jealous in the protection y
these funds, 10 which they DO not "
attribute Que cent, and careful that d
. men who maintain thcm are re- 4
,Ved before agr eF misfortune shall
,ke tAem subject % the bcnv6t 20 4,
Itch they are entitled This reason.
a this alone, IL che explanAtioa OF y
e age limit and physical standards =
railroads
90 Toe training ~ railroad maa Is :
matter ~ years. Oao who has en-.
red ssTviee ~ 20 is thoroughly sea,
aea az aA Per the Rsxt 10 years he
worth more 60 his employer tAaa Ne
= daFing tas rs years 0t apprsntise-
iR hut Ae must go, The 'weeaiag
process u carried On ineessantly