New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-10
Once Hated Monopolv Is Now Valued Public Servant
Dsdans Lobbying and Strong tor Co'opea0n ana ruo
lcity-Saves the Citizens $ooo'ooo AnnuaAy-rree o'
Gas Repeatedly Cut Yet Dividends Increase

nershlp relation between gas sellers ard
gas BUYERS So while the officials % the
corporation are working FOR more pronts
and larger dividends. they must necessarily
work az the same time for greater saw
/ ing 10 the people.
! The law required us 10 mako the burr
ers OF gas our partners. although We could
/ have stuck 10 - cents and per cent In
/ definitely. / guess, in which event our Gus
/ toners would not have prohtod any under
/ the arrangement provided by law. But va
voluntarily adopted system II premiums
| By which we made Il possible for our en-
ployes. including Office boys az g a week.
/ 10 share i'm the prosperity q the company
/ The dividend rate 10 stockholders is the
premium rate 10 our men. ~ present. II
/ an cmploye. in wages or salary, earns $50
/ a year, the amount q his premium would
| be Q per cent Of that sum. or SG."
! Are premiums paid 10 all OF your en-
ployes?" / asked.
! "Out Of the So persons on our payroll
! last year, 10 were pront-sharers. We re-
\ quire that a man must be IN our service
/ twelve months before he IL eligible 10 70
/ on what we call our honor roll. Besides,
he must be- temperate, energetic. honest
and capable. and receive the recommenda-
| ton Of his foreman or some one else IN
/ authority. We hold that wnen an en-
/ ploye becomes partner IN the profits Of
! business that he becomes interested IA
( the business and tie economies that are
: introduced. II he saves for the company
; he saves for himself With us, every time
the price Of gas Is cut FIVE cents PER cent
! is added yearly 10 the premium or dividend
| Of the profit sharer.
/ rs the money paid the men in hand
NO. II f. invested In the preferred
/ stock 81 the Massachusetts, Gas COM
panieS the holding corporation. al the cur
rent market price. In consequence an en-
ploye not only receives a yearly premium
/ for hts services. but dividends also on The
stock that he owns Moreover ne can
/ derosit his savings with the company and
get per cent for the money. The same
! interest is paid on any balance he may
have ON our books The shares OF STOCK
| that he buys are his property absolutely
~ he desires 10 sell them. however. Ve
require that he give US notice In Nrung'
IN case he needs 70 sell, no objection s
/ made.
During the four years that the pro't'
/ sharing plan has been in operation the SUM
! ~ Sl6s. 90 has been paid out n premiums
which is an average OF S-5S 70 eacn en-
Move. I have told our men that II business
/ continues 10 improve an employe VINO mas
served the company continuously and ca
nablv will have a shareholders Interest N
! five or six years equal 10 about one-haN
| ~ his annual earnings. representative
| ~ the profit sharers is member OF th'
! board Of directors. Logically, ne ought 10
he The same policy has been followed II
/ London with gratifying results. Ine Bos-
ron Consolidated Gas Company Is as near
a copartnership OF the investor. the en-
! ploye. and the public as It seems posslo's
10 attain 49,
What DO you tell man when you hire
him."
To be courteous at all times never -
lose his temper TO avoid any show OF o.
Hcious Importance, under 10 circumstances
10 make promises the company can't rum
and 10 walk smartly and not TO SLOUGH
I along the street or elsewhere.
do YOU compel users OF gas 10 put Up
I . danosit before meters are placed IN tne!s
/ hornes?"
NO. we make no charge. We require IA
denos,t. The only condition we mention
| Is that a customer shall consume a. 'eas'
/ 70 cents worth Of gas month
Copyright. 1911. ~ James B. NoF'oD