Evening journal., 1908-04-13
R. R.
RELIEF WORK

In bringing the records II the Penn
sylvania RallrDtl Employes' Relief
fund up to the birthday OF the fund
February 15--it is found that in the
period Of twenty-five years elapsing
since the foundation of the fund on
February Is, 1886. nearly $4,000, 900
has been paid out in benefits.
This relief fund Is in many respects
unique among railroad undertakings in
this country 1t was established for
the purpose of paying definite amounts
to members, in proportion to their con-
tributions, when disabled by accident
or sickness; or when, by reason Of age,
they are retired from active service Of
the company In the event Of death,
definite amounts are also payable to
the families or benehciaries of such
members.
The fund from which these benefits
are paid is formed by voluntary contri-
buttons from members; from interest
paid by the companies on monthly ball
ances at the rate Of four per cent,
som income or profit on the invest
ments; from gifts or legacies, and
from appropriations by the companies.
During the twenty-five years exis-
tence of the fund there have been dis
tributed benefits amounting to $10,316,-
096.5O, in 715.759 cases of disablement,
for periods ranging from one day to
21 years Death benefits amounting to
S7,117,962.91 have been paid to the
families Of 1866 deceased members.
The amounts paid for disablement and
for death due to accident were less
than one-half those due to sickness, in
this method in cases not due to the
risks Of the service. The value Of the
protection provided by the fund is seen
in the fact that a member may draw
for disablement In So weeks as much
as his contributions would amount to
in 16 years. Death benefits are equal
to what the contributions would
amount to in 2s years.
In the conduct of the fund, the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company gives the
use Of their offices and supplies, and
their many facilities for the transact
tion of the business Of the depart
ment, including the services Of many
employees, not directly connected with
the department. 1t also provides ar
tificial limbs and other appliances and
free hospital and surgical attendance
to members disabled by accident in the
service. The company also pays all
expenses of operation and administra-
tion of the department, including the
salaries of the two officers in charge
the seventy-two medical examiners,
and the one hundred and fourteen other
employees directly engaged in the oper-
alton of the department The operat-
ing expenses of the Relief Department
In the twenty-five years amounted to
S2,6S6, 90S.27. The Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company also paid deficiencies
amounting to $654,741.24; for relief to
sick members who had, prior to Janu-
airy 1, 1900, exhausted their title to
benefits 1858, ,91e05; contributions I'm
1856. S6O.652.s6; and a large part OF
the interest received by the fund,
amounting to S626,745.32,
Any ernploye not over As years Of
age is eligible for membership in the
fund indicative Of its popularity with
the employees OF the company is the
growth in membership. In 1886 the
fund had 1882 members, while at the
end of the twenty-five years there
were 95.0s9, an increase Of about 400
per cent.