Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-04

than a glass of beer, and as an induce
ment the former is furnished free of
cost, while the latter has to be paid for.
The Pennsylvania, the New York Cen
trail and several other railways provide
comfortable and attractive rest rooms
for their men. with newspapers. maya
zines and other reading matter. but the
men have to go to the regular refresh
ment stands for whatever they eat or
drink. and pay the usual price.
Several large manufacturing corpora
lions are also adopting temperance rules.
Several of the subordinate companies of
the United States Steel Corporation have
forbidden the use OF liquor by their en-
p'oyes and understand that the Nation
al Harvester Company has enforced or
is about TO enforce the same rule.
Railway Apprentice System.
Another reform which has been adopted
by ffty-five of the railroads of the
United States is an apprentice system
by which more than seven thousand boys
are now beirg trained in the machine
shops as engineers and machinists. The
New York Central system is said to he
the most advanced. and il was described
in detail to the education comm ttee of
the American Federation of Labor which
met In Washington a few days ago. A
large factlon OF that organization has
regarded the movement with great dis
favor because il believes IL to be
menace to organized labor. Each of the
skilled trades pref RS to control and limit
the education of journeymen in order that
the supply of skilled labor NAV not ex-
coed the demand. hut the more progress
i've and liberal of the labor leaders have
approved the movement and defended il
at the Washington meeting
The apprentice schools of the New York
Central system are under the direction Of
Mr.. {. W. Cross, who has had an office in
the Grand Central station in New York
city since 1t came into operation in 1905.
henever young man applies for a
job he is referred to Mr.. Cross. and is
subjected to an examination TO deter
mine his experience, his knowledge and
general qualifications.
If he turns out to be the proper kind
Of material his name is placed upon the
waiting list. and whenever a helper or
wiper is needed In the shops or round
houses he is taken on. If he proves to be
obedient and Industrious and shows
desire to learn he is sent into the shop,
where he is put under obstruction i'm
touch with the actual work of repair and
construction of machinery. a few hours
every day are devoted to book learning"
arithmetic, geometry. mechanics. draw
Ing, bookkeeping, geography and other
English branches. Occasionally a car
load of apprentices will be sent to other
shops and factories TO spend the day, and
are required to make written reports OF
what they have seen and learned After
they have had a good training in ordi-
nary mechanics they are put through
course OF electricity and engineering
These classes are constantly being de-
pleted by sending their members to take
jobs as brakemen, firemen. oilers and to
do similar work in the machine shops
roundhouses and in the construction and
maintenance departments. Occasional
", when a boy shows unusual ability. he
is sent TO technical school to complete
his education.
Feeders for the Railway.
Apprentice schools are now becoming
so general that they are able to furnish
nearly all the skilled help required upon
the fffty-f1ve railways and in their shops.
Within few years the New York Cen
trail company will have all of its most
important positions filled by men who
have been educated under it's own super
vision and at its own expense. No at
tempt is made to control the liberty of
these men. They are under no obliga-
tionS to the company to enter its en-
ployment. but very small percentage
ever leave voluntarily. They understand
that employment is permanent and promo
ton is certain if they behave themselves
and demonstrate their usefulness. On the
other hand. the company discharges few
of them, and those only for cause. There
is perfect understanding between the
apprentices and their superiors, and the
loyalty that is developed as the course of
training goes on is one of the most graft
Tying features of the system.