The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-12-17
WORK OF THE RAILROAD y.M. c. A.
WHAT Is BEING DONE IN WAY
OF CLUBS, READING ROOMS
ON PENNSYLVANIA.


ly recent growth in railroad manage
ment. Now, in the case of some If
the roads, it has come to be consid-
cred fundamental. Directors and Of
ficers realize that the pension fund
and other similar features are causes
contributory to the ultimate efficiency
of a railroad. The policy is not one
of philanthropy, it is part of good
business management. Such benefits
make employees feel that they have an
interest in the property, and better
service is the result.
In late years the pension dea has
been particularly prominent, and the
system employed by the Pennsylva-
MIA railroad has been taken as a
model by many others. Before it be-
gun paying pensions to retired en-
ployes. the Pennsylvania had already
long conducted a relief fund and a
savings fund, and had contributed to
libraries and railroad branches of the
Y. M. C. A.
Company Pays Thorn.
The pensions are paid entirely b."
the company In the year 1905, $780,
900 was paid out to men who had re-
tired between the ages of IS and 20.
From the time the fund was estab-
lished to the end of 1905, appropria-
lions for it amounted to $2,OO4,OS7,
paid to 200 men.
Employees may retire for age at 70.
or for physical Interpretation between
GA and SO. If they have been in the
service as long as 80 years, they are
granted an allowance based on 1 per
cent of the monthly wages for each
year of service. The percentage is
based on the wages received for the
10 years preceding retirement.
Thus, if an engineer, or a brakeman
or a fireman has served the Pennsyl-
vania 80 years he may retire between
IS and 20 and receive not less than
80 per cent of his monthly wages dur
ing the last ten years of work.
Savings Branch.
A saving fund is conducted by the
company for employees, and interest a.
the rate of 3R per cent is guaran-
teed. The object of the fund is to
make saving both safe and convenient;
more than 100 agents along the Penn
sylvania lines east of Pittsburg and
Erie are designated as depositaries.
With any one Of these agents any
employee may deposit money in sums
of not more than 500 month. Since
the fund began operation in 1888 more
than $11,OOO,OOO has been deposited
and more than $1,225,00O has been
paid out in interest to employees.
For 20 years the Pennsylvania has
conducted a voluntary relief depart
ment By their membership in this
department. employees are insured
against accident, sickness and death
Up to December 81, 'O5, the total dis
bursements of the fund amounted to
| $16,791,3 $40, and the average annual
| disbursements being $S39,567.
! Membership contributions, fixed in
J accordance with a graduated scale, are
| for five classes and vary in size from
| 75c to 1915 month. If the man who
pays IS cents a month suffers an ac-
cident he gets so cents day for
year, and 25 cents a day thereafter
while disabled; for sickness, he gets
40 cents a day after the first three
days, for one year, and 20 cents day
thereafter while sick. Benefits are
proportionately higher for those whose
monthly contributions are larger. Inc
death benefits vary from $3.50 for the
lowest class to $3.50 for the highest.
For Libraries.
Libraries and reading rooms not in
cluded in those of the Y. NJ. c. A.
branches, receive contributions and
announcement from the company. On
December 81, 1905, the lines east OF
Pittsburg and Erie were Interested IN
libraries carrying an aggregate Oh
66. 7OS volumes. In the Mechanics IL
brarv. Altoona, there are about 49,
600 volumes and 225 newspapers ano
periodicals accessible to the Pennsyl-
vania employees there. The company
contributes about $1,000 annually to
the support of this library.
Trainmen have access to a NUMBER
of reading rooms along the company
lines. At 1907 Filbert street, Phlla-
delphia, is a sort of club for rallroao
men, where they can rest ana steep
between trains. In the building is a
, library with 1900 or 400 books, locker
rooms with 9S3 individual lockers
sleeping rooms with II beds for night
use, and 16 couches for day use, lunch
room, game room. and reading room
Have Rest Houses.
| At the close Of 1905, there were "a
railroad branches Of the Y. NJ. c. A.
on the Pennsylvania lines east OF
Pittsburg and Erie. These are sup