New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-12-04

Con DAYS ago. Louis u Brandels'
-on,esentjng the Eastern shippers at the
va+e hearings before the interstate Noii'-
r,erce Commission. threw little ""i'i'-
shell into the ranks OF the rallfodu OH
Gals. and set men everywhere thliihiil7'
-,-bo-, he suggested that instead Of try
- meet increased expenses by rals-
ing rates the railroad men reduce the
.xnenses by adopting efficient me1hous
Of management
SHOW u.s. cried several railroad presl-
s,+s ir-n,ad;a1elv. A number Of them
GOT together and sent a telegram TO MI
4,-.n5lie in which they limited that if
ne could point out a way by which could
he saved a substantial portion OF the
waste Of 81 100000, which he had oe-
r1ared The roads were losing dalH
through inefficient management
oral Western railways would he pleased
10 tender you employment, allowing YOU
10 name your own salary
Nv Rrandeis proceeded To snow
.bar,-- nv presenting the testimony OF
a., number Of men who had evolved ana
demonstrated a scientific plan through
which could be broken up by more en-
,ian- methods the cycle OF raising the
cost Of living by higher prices and theh
raising wages to meet the higher prices
-b11e beginning a new cycle Of the same
Kind. on Tuesday he sent this teie-
gram 70 the railroad presidents:
Dear Sir: Your telegram Of the sd.
sent on behalf Of the Western railroad
presidents 70 me. care of Interstate Com
,na-cA Commission. vas not delivered
until this morning. owing to my absence
81 Boston.
You refer 70 the estimate quoted 10y
ne that 4 million dollars d day could be
saved in operating American railroads
nv the introduction Of scientific manage
nent and say that if I can point out
practical way by which a substantial
r,o-1ion OF this amount can he saved sew
e-al Western railroads would be pleased
70 tender me employment, allowing me
20 name my own salary. 1 am convinced
that such saving is possible through the
Introduction Of scientific management,
and shall be glad as a public service, to
grange for conferences with these w est
s-D presidents at an early date. and point
mt how scientific management will &C
s-ompIish these results. I suggest tha-
RE Eastern presidents be also invited
30 attend the conferences.
Il must decline TO accept any salary
rr other compensation from the railroads
.o-- the same reason that have declined
conpensation from the shipping organ
.za1ions wr m I represent, namely, that
EK-ni Tori-
,na-ily affecting the Eastern nanufact-
-1-ars and merchants, viii ultimately pe
horne in large part by the consumer
through increasing the cost Of living
mainly Of those least able 10 bear added
7,r1-deus. I desire that any aid I can
render ID preventing such added burdens
shalI be unpaid service kindly suggest
date and place for conferences
LOUIS D. BRANDEIS."
Here are some illustrations Of what
has been done through these methods
II men VINO appeared to testify before
ne commission, under the direction OF
NJ. Brandeis, and by others:
Six years ago the Santa Fe Railroad
decided 70 introduce a more efficient
method Of doing things on its road In a
vertod Of three years its net saving was
approxinlately S5.s00.00o, d sum which
would nav Is per cent annual dividend
on So .s.la ODD -. Of capital, the cost or
The administration Of the system being
about 100000 This was not the only
advantage gained. It developed a per-
sonaI interest among the men IN their
work. for not only did they have the IN
ceutive 10 work more efficiently, in order
70 earn the bonus, but each realized that
his personal record Of efficiency was as
carefully kept as though he were the
sun Of s, 100000 for which the treasurer
was responsible. The results IN actual
saving in time. and. therefore, in cost,
through the practice Of more ef1clene
methods is illustrated IN these comparl-
sons between the old and new plans IN
connection with repair work on Santa
Fe locomotives
Former Present
hours hours.
III