East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-01-05

The Brown system of discipllning
railroad men for the mistakes and de-
ficiencies, recalls the old system of
having a secret mark in the letter of
recommendation given discharged
railroad men.
The present system of discipline is
simple and just, and every. man has a
fair chance. When railroad man
makes a serious error, it is recorded
in the office of the head of his depart
ment and each month these errors are
placed in order and published in bull
letin form and posted in all the Of
fices on each division.
1t is plainly stated what each man
did to merit the discipline, and there
is a lesson for other railroad em-
ployes in this list of posted errors.
The bulletins read in this manner:
"A conductor has been disciplined for
failing to pick up a car of wood,
properly billed and ready for ship
ment. Conductors must be careful to
pick up all cars properly billed and
READY 10 De moved.
IAN engineer has been severely dis
ciplined for failing to sound the whis-
tie at road crossing. The rules
covering this subject must be strictly
observed by all enginemen and no
excuse will be taken for a failure"
While the number of demerit
marks given in each case is not stated
in the bulletin, yet the details of the
error made by the employe is stated,
so others may profit by them. other
conductors and engineers seeing that
demerit marks have been given for
certain offenses will be careful to
guard against such offenses in future
and thus the service is constantly i'm
proved by the system.
Old System of BIaclxlisting.
Before general managers and su-
perintendents of all the railroads be-
came organized into. associations for
mutual protection, they resorted to
many queer methods of warning each
other of the efficiency or inefficiency
of employees. To openly blacklist an
employe was against the law, and vet
there were certain classes of men that
were always Objectionable on all roads
and so secret water mark in the pa
per on which the letter given each
employe on his leaving the service,
was used as sure warning to the
next superintendent to whom the let
ter might be presented.
Each paper mill adopts a certain
trade mark, or legend for its special
qualities of commercial paper. This
mark is not always visible on a glance
but by holding the paper up between
the eye and window or lamp, the
secret mark can be easily seen. As
all mills used this form of trade
| mark. it was very common and arous-
ed no suspicion in the mind of any
one.
Meaning of Secret Marks.
So the superintendent used this
secret mark of the mills as their Sc.
cret language. Some mills used q
crane, as the figure in their CONNER
cial papers, other a butterfly. Others
a coat of arms, others a reproduction
of some royal coat of arms, and so or
indefinitely.
In the early days of railroading IT
the west, the general managers hat
a special series of water marks OF
trade marks made for use in theil
offices and each of these marks tolC
the whole story of the employe pre-
senting the letter bearing the mark
No matter what the letter said, tn,
water mark was the truer record anC
upon it the fate of the brakeman, en-
gineer, fireman or operator rested.
A crane standing upright, will
head erect and wings tightly folde,
against his sides meant that the EN-
ploye was upright and capable an,
could be depended upon.
!. A crane drinking from a pool mean
. that the employe had been discharg
ed for drinking" or intoxication.
A crane standing on one foot wit
head under his wing and wings lop
ping at his side, meant that the EN-
, ploye was lazy and indolent and coul
| not be depended upon.
Two cranes in an attitude of angel
with wings spread and bills erecte
for fight meant that the employ
4 was quarrelsome and made troubl
D among his associates.
= The body Of crane standing ereC
2 with head cut off squarely at tn
: shoulders meant that the employe wa
i especially objectional and had bee
e discharged for good cause and shoul
= not be employed under any circun
( stances.
k The picture of a crane partly COZ
: cealed behind a palm tree with nee
II stretched out secretly, meant that tt
l. employe was a "spotter," and spy an
: was probably in the employe Of II
g stockholders to spy upon officials.
= A flying crane with a letter in |
e mouth meant that the bearer was
tale-bearer and constantly kept tro,
BILE alive by carrying news from II
men to the officials and vice versa.
Il A crane with its head thrust into
al deep basket meant that the emplo!
l. was accused of stealing compar
a money or property
II This system of secret marks WI
l. adopted and observed for years b
j. fore employees generally learned abo
@, 1t and while a railroad man carrie
e, a letter giving him time of service
I Al. 4. t.l. hn