Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-07-20
GOOD RECORDS
HELP MEN ON
LEHIGH VALLEY

new YORK, July 20:-G0od disci-
pline ia the principal factor OF organ
ization, and nowhere Is this fact rec
ognized more than on the great
railroads of this country. To attain
this end different methods have
been adopted by different roads.
For many years past the Lehigh
Valley railroad has punished minor
attractions of its rules by what are
known as Record Suspensions" 1t
is easily recognized that on a great
railroad system. where thousands Of
men are employed. there will occur
certain attractions of the rules which
are not sufficient to merit dismissal,
but which cannot be passed by with
out some discipline being inflicted.
The old method was to suspend a
mar for a certain period, thereby de-
priving him of the wages which he
would otherwise earn. AS this not
only disciplined the employe, but In
many cases worked a hardship on
his family, a system of Record Sus-
pensions was adopted, whereby no
time is lost by the employe; how
ever, the suspension Of one week,
two weeks or one month, as the case
might be, is entered against his rec
ord In the same manner as If he
were actually out Of service for that
time. These records are taken into
consideration when an employe Is
considered for promotion, or is be-
ing disciplined for some further vio-
lation of the rules.
Record Suspensions" having been
found to be as efficient as actual sus-
pensions, 1t being a matter of per-
sonal pride with railroad men to
have a clear record, it vas decided
by the Lehigh Valley railroad to re-
wise further their system of disci-
pline so that, beginning July list,
1910, employees with imperfect rec
ords would have an opportunity to
clear them by loyal and efficient SER
vice in the future, and to provide a
system whereby their future records
would receive the benefits Of merito-
rious service. Clear records for
stated periods will be recognized by
credit allowances, and heroic or me-
ritorious service, whether In Or out
Of the usual line of duty of the en-
ploye, will be rewarded by further
credit allowances. A definite limit
to dement, records will be establish
ed to indicate the u%nftness of an
employe to be retained In the SER
vice.
Employees found guilty of disloy-
atty to the company. insubordfna-
ton, drunkenness, carelessness or
Indifference to duty, or other gross
violations Of rules, will be summar-
lily dismissed from the service.
Employees having a clear record
for two years prior to July 1st, 1910,
will be entitled to cancellation of all
dement's prior to that date. A clear
record for one year prior to July 1st,
1910, will cancel all dement, records
prior to January LIST, 1905, and q
clear record for twelve consecutive
months at any time after July 1st.
will cancel dement, records to
that date.
Employees not having a clear rec
ord for one year prior to july 1st,
1910, will retain their records as
entered upon the books, but a clear
for twelve consecutive months
at any time after this notice becomes
effective will cancel their dement,
prior to January 1st, 1906,
and a clear record for two periods
of twelve consecutive months each,
will thereby cancel all demerit rec
ords to July 1st, 1910.
Employees who entered the service
since January 1, 1905, will be en-
abled by a clear record for twelve
consecutive months prior to July
LIST, 1910, to cancel all dement, rec
ords to that date. Such employees
not having a clear record for twelve
months prior to July list,
1910, will be enabled by a clear rec
ord for twelve consecutive months
at any time after July list 1910, to
cancel demerit records to that date.
Thus to every employe Is given an
opportunity to clear his past record.
In addition to credits for merito-
rious and commendable action, clear
records will entitle employees to cred
1t records to apply against demerit
records q. e. record suspensions'')
accruing after July LIST, 1910, as fol-
lows:
(a) Ten days will be cancelled by
a clear record foa six months.
(b) Thirty days will be cancelled
by a clear record for twelve months.
Co Sixty days will be cancelled
by a clear record for eighteen
months.
The minimum merit or demerit
record will be FIVE days and the max
imum sixty days.
When an employees dement, record
aggregates ninety days he will be re-
lieved from duty.