The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-02-16
PENSION SYSTEM
GROWS IN FAVOR
Latest Estimates Show Al
most 40 Per Cent of Rail
: way Employees in Line.

According 20 the latest estimates OBJ
tsinahIe there are 674Z59 railroad en-
ployes in the United States in line for
pensions. This is about 20 per cent Of
the total number Of railroad employees
in this country. Thirteen railroads re-
port that 1859 men drew pensions aggre-
eating 1914. 695-10 in the fiscal year end
ed June 90, 1907
A number of railroads have had IN
official pension systerss for many. years
Among these is the Central Railroad OF
New Jersey. the New York Central
also granted pensions before Il inaU-
Eurated its official plan on January l.
1910 The officials in charge Of the pen
sion department OF the New York Cen
traI. with its 125,Go0 employees, estimate
that the Inauguration Of the new plan
viii add 100 to 1900 men a year to the
number already drawing pensions
Tweuty-One Have System.
The twenty-oue railroad systems Eav-
ing pension departments in operation
are the A6chison, Topeka and Santa Pc,
The Atlantic Coast Lire. the Bcssemer
and Lake Erie railroad. the Baltimore
and Ohio. the Boston and Albany, the
Buffalo, Rochester and PittsbUrE. the
Central OF New Jersey. the Chicago
and Northwestern, the Chicago, St
Paul. Minneapolis and Omaha, the
Cleveland Terminal and Valley. the
Delaware. Isarkawanns and Western.
the Houston and Texas, the New York
Central, the Illinois Central, the Oregon
Railroad and Navigation Company, the
Oregon Short Line. the Pennsylvania
the Philadelphia and Reading. the Rock
Island, the Southern Pacific, and tire
Union Pacific The employees OF the
numerous subsidiaries are Included of
course IN the peIision systems
SuppcrteF By Companies.
In the masc-1ty Of cases the pension
Is fixed az 1 Pc cent Of the average
wage for he ten years next preceding
retirsmant. multiplied by the number
OF years Of serviCa- For example. If an
eng1neman has earned $50 a month OF
the average during the last ten years
OF his service, and has been in the en-
ploy OF the company for thirty years
he is retired on a pension Of 50 a
month
IN evary case the pension fund is sup
ported exclusively by the company. The
employees not contributing thereto The
pensions are given for both superaunUa.
ton and disability. The age Of retire
uuent on four roads-the Atchison- To.
peka and sSants Fe. the Baltimore and
Ohio, the t3uhaio. Rochester and Pitts
f.-rE. and the New Ceurral-iS - years
on the rest Of the roads r. Is 20 year
EZ-f OF the yoads limit the age al which
labor may be employed 70 3 years, and
half to - years Two roads, the Rocl
Island and the Union Pacific, make th'
distinction Of employing ineXperIenCer
labor ar 8 years, and experienced at j
years
Length Of Service Varies
The length OF service after which
man is eligible for a pension varies Wit
the different roads from ten 20 thirt-
Years, twenty being the average Al
insist on continuous service, but III
Interpretation OF this term Is most lib
eraL As a general rule. leave Of al
sence, susper sion for discipline, OF TEN
usrary Iay-oEz mot exceeding one year
on account OF reduction in force is no
considered a break in the continuity O
service. When IN emplOye leaves tn
road voluntaril-, Of course. he inter
-1pts the continuity OF his service an
may destroy q long record ent1lIng hlT
10 a liberal pension
The records OF employment are care
fully kent some Of the card index file
containing from $4,000 TO $4,000 names
An instance IS cited. where an engine
man applied for d pension for servic
dating from 1853 His record Shove
thar he was entitled to a pension 70
service dating from 1855, and he va
so uOtif1bG-