Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-30
VOLUNTARY INCREASE IN WAGES
t1UNTlNGTONS GIFT TO EMPLOYEES
RAILWAY MEN AGREEABLY
SURPRISED
TWENTY.THREE HUNDRED ARE
BENEFITED BY RAISE
Local Traction Magnate's Christmas
Bounty Means 100000 More
Year to Conductors and
Motormen
nv wENrY-THREE HUNDRED mo-
tormen and conductors in the

NV WENI4 THREE HUNDRED mo
tormen and conductors in the
- service of the Huntington system,
including the Pacific Electric railway,
the Los Angeles railway and the Los
Angeles < Redondo railway, were most
agreeably surprised yesterday on being
notified that Mr. Henry Il. Huntington,
the president of the several companies,
had without consultation with any of
the officials of the railways, ordered
bulletins posted at the several division
barns and offices announcing general
advance in wages to all Of the men
amounting to 10 per cent.
The good news, which was wholly un-
expected fhe advance coming as it
does as a substantial holiday gifD was
received with warm expressions Of
pleasure by the men, who displayed
their qualification by stepping faster
and speaking in the highest terms of
praise of Mr.. Huntington, whom they
look upon as real Santa Claus.
Every man in the employ of the sew
eral companies owned and operated by
Mr. Huntington receives the advance
of cent an hour, with the exception
of less than twenty men who have been
in the service for fifteen years and
have been paid at the rate Of 30 cents
an lOuf IN dCCOIQdute With lilt IiO-
visions of the old schedule.
The increase in the pay Of the men,
given unsolicited by the great captain
of industry means a total gift of about
$150,O0O annually to the employees, and
the amount may reach an advance Of
100000 in the payroll.
Copy of Official Notification
Below is copy of the letter to the
heads of the several lines received at
the Pacific Electric building yesterday
afternoon:
LOS ANGELES. Dec. 20.
Mr. J. Mcmillan, General Manager Pacific
Electric Railway Co.
Mr. Howard Huntington. General Manager
Los Angeles Railway Co.
Mr. c. II Burnett Manager Los Angeles 4
Redondo Railway CO.
Gentlemen-In recognition Of the faithful
services OF the motormen and conductors on
the Pacific Electric railway, the Los Ange-
les railway and the Los Angeles Redondo
Railway companies. I wish you TO make ef-
fective the following scale Of wages for all
motornen and conductors:
First year 25 cents per hour.
Second YEAR &c cents per hour.
Third year. 27 cents per hour.
Fourth year 2S cents per hour.
Fifth year, % cents per hour
Sixth year and after. 30 cents per hour
You Will arrange 70 put this schedule In
effect for the Pac.hc Electric railway and
the Los Angeles & Redondo Railway com
panes beginning Jan l, 1910. and for the
Los Angeles Railway company beginning
Dec 20, 1909 the latter date being named
account Of the men being paid by the week
Trusting that the relations Of our men
both with the public and the management
of the respective companies Will continue to
be as harmonious and pleasant In the future
as in the past 1 remain, Yours truly,
II e. HUNTINGTON, President
Attorney S. NJ. Haskins of the law
firm of Gibson, Trask, Dunn & Crutcher
counsellors for the several systems con-
trolled by Mr.. Huntington, stated TO a
Herald representative that the receipt
of the above letter was the first knowl-
edge any of the officials Of the COM
panies had of the purposes Of the cleo
trio railway magnate. The commands
of Mr.. Huntington, as suggested in the
notification, were Immediately executed.
all Of the officers emulatng the Christ
mas spirit displayed by the generous
donor.
J. e. Brown, secretary in the office of