The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-01-24

justment on the physical and mech
anicaI side-perfection of the mach
inery, cutting down grades, strength
ening bridges increasing the train
unit And now has come the era OF
sociological adjustment. The human
part of the machine is quite as vital
as the steel and wooden part in pro-
ducing efficiency and so in increasing
the income.
"The most practical ana efficient
railroad manager today is now
squarely up against the problem
which he is attacking in one form or
another, of education, of himself, his
staff, the individuals in the rank and
file, and the rank and file as a whole.
This is the last and highest and most
comprehensive stage of the function
of administration. 1t implies, for in
stance, and eager, resourceful, self
respecting individualism throughout
the working forces, coordinated with
acter of the work, which expresses it
self in a loyalty not to a person or q
local group, but to the income account
of the railroad-nor yet to one income
account, but to the aggregate of the
income accounts of several years.
These income accounts showing steady
healthy growth over several years, be-
come at the same time the terms OF
largest service to the community, the
stakeholder, and che individual en-
ployee.
"a note of warning may at this time
seem to be premature, but certain
| tendencies are already foreshadoWed
which should not go unchecked. When
| the railroad manager comes fully to
realize how his new-found tool of
education enables him to shape almost
absolutely to his purposes the working
body, there may arise the danger that
railroad specialization in education be
| carried too far.
IF the railroads, when they come
very generally to instruct Their
employees turn their back up
on the professional teacher. severe
| matter and in method form and at the
same time substituting it for the work
| of the regular established educational
agencies Of the grammar school and
! high school grades, the result can
only be what the psychologist calls
arrested development for the learner
Railroads as a whole, through
representative body such as the Am
erican Railway association, should in
a comprehensive way take up the mat
ter of the education of railroad en-
ployees. AS they now have commit
tees devoted TO standards of construc-
| ton, maintenance, and operating prac
tice, they should also have a standing
committee of character to command
confidence, who should sedulously fos-
ter a closer relation between the rail-
! road and educational agencies
Mr.. Eaton draws these conclusions:
Railroad financial arrangements
should incorporate an educational
scheme as a definite part of their pol
ICY on the ground of business prud-
ence. Such policies should be inaug
urated for periods of not less than
five years, preferably ten, otherwise
the money appropriated will be largely
wasted.
Railroads should extend the policy
| Of education announced by the dir
ectors there should be a superinten-
Diet of education reporting directly to
| a higher official, such superintendent
to be thoroughly informed of the edu-
| cational policy of the railroad and the
broad considerations on which it rests.
His department should Systematically
recruit the employees throughout the
service and certify, on request, to
their records and general efficiency in
the early stages of promotion.
Efficiency should be recognized by
an efficiency wage, stated distinctly
apart from the seniority wage
Employees should be encouraged to
take outside courses of instruction or
experience without FORGETTING their
tenure and so far as possible, the edu-
vocational department should systemat-
cially turn to account every outside
educational agency by suggesting
courses, to the end that theory ano
practice be joined.
"The educational opportunities of
the service should be utilized to the
utmost by encouragement of perfect
freedom of study and criticism and in
terchange of ideas concerning acct
dents, bad work, and all the details of
practice. Annual or semiannual meet