The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-06-12
GOOD BUSINESS JUDGMENT.


 There is a suggestion of the old-fash- toned relationship between employed and employer in the policy the firm of Edward Malley & Co.,, has adopted and will enforce in the case of employees Who have served prescribed time in its store. It is not necessarily to be ac- cepted as conclusive revelation of q new order of things in the world of employment, but 1t does encourage the hope that it may open the way to such an adjustment of labor and capital in their joint responsibility, that the an- gry phases of misunderstanding may some day be anticipated and avoided.
 It has long been the belief of hope ful feeling people that the new cur rents of human relationship, which were created by the modern business organization, would of themselves pro- vide remedy for the things complain ed of It has appeared to them impos- sible that the artificial barrier erected by consolidated undertakings could be made to stand permanently. It has been all well enough to talk about the increased economy resulting from the combination of interests, which were formerly competitive or antagonistic, and the stronger hold that would give upon the markets of the world, and such talk has had it's conspicuous ef- feet upon the business mind, but at last 1t is beginning to dawn upon em- ployers of labor, that the personal equation is still powerful in all human undertakings, and that probably mis- take has been made in ignoring It. The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad company has, in the ordinary process of things, become vast ma x chine, which is destined to be vaster, and while it is not easy to see how it can revive the old fashioned fellowship which a smaller business enterprise like Edward Malley 6 Go. can readily revive, 1t is perfectly certain that it will find, possibly in a more extensive pension policy of old employees, way to impress upon it's men it's human in- terest in their welfare. It Is inconceiv- able that its management will remain content with a mechanical valuation of the thousands who serve 1t in import ant positions.
 We have 1t upon the wise authority of the committee on schools that "length of service, while a factor, should not be a determining influence" :" The firm of Edward Malley & Go. now practically gives notice that 1t dissents from this view, and proposes to make length of service, which presupposes efficiency of past service, a basis of a new relationship In so far as the New York, New Haven and Hartford Rail- road company has voluntarily introduc- ed the pension system among old en- ployes, 1t, too, dissents from this cold ly commercial point of view. And 1t requires but a moments consideration of the question to satisfy the most skeptical that the elimination of faith full service from the measurement of an employees worth introduces @ pro- vision of service which reads, in the school room of experience, that "the devil takes the hindmost." That is neither good business, good sense or good morals. In so far, too, as that false theory is depended upon to de- termine the organization of a business, or other cooperative scheme, distinct encouragement is given a lawless view of the partnership. In so far as the kindlier view Is accepted and enforced, which carries with 1t human appre- citation of faithful service, without which business investments are pre- carious, distinct encouragement is given men and women to work for a compensation, which cannot be ex- pressed, even to them, in terms of dol lars and cents.
 It will be fine day for the cities oi the State of Connecticut when employ ing firms seek to encourage their em- ployes upon the theory that the longer man works faithfully, the more con stderate they should be of his human rights. and that when advancing age modifies his mechanical output without affecting his personal enthusiasm, he still has claims upon their considera- tion. This we take to be the philosophy which the house of Mailey accepts, and which the New Haven railroad has, ir more than dozen instances, enforced All hail to a larger recognition of the human equation in business relation ships.
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