The Washington herald., 1911-06-18

is INDUCED in by the conductors and
motornen on duty, in their own prov
ince. So II they do not feel like going
down to the club, they have their own
little smokers" at home, as 1t were. As
the men usually live in the vicinity OF the
barns from which they make their run
this is a pleasant arrangement.
A funny story is told of business man
Of washington who put a newspaper man
wise to the fact that the system of
graft on the city street cars was the
boIdest in the world. why" said this
gentleman, "I saw the conductor of a
car was on the other evening hand the
motornnan a couple of dollars out OF his
Knock down money. 1t was the rum
NEST thing I ever beheld-didn't seem
to care a hang who saw him."
The newspaper man was interested, of
course. and properly astonished. Some
months afterward he was on a late car
which was comparatively well filled when
he saw the conductor call to the motor
man and hand him a couple of dollars.
He said nothing, but when he saw the
performance repeated several times aft
erward-he was a commuter and rode
the same car daily-he one night accosted
the man. Say, are you not afraid to
divvy up in that public manner" he
asked the boldly dishonest one. '1 should
think you'd be afraid some of these pas
sengers would some day tip the office
or" .... 2
You're In wrong" replied the conduc-
tor, with the utmost good nature. Il am
paying OF the motormal, that's all
pay him out OF the money I have and
report It so at the office."
This Is only done, however, In case Of
a motorman who does not run the car
into the barn. Mostly, all men must re-
port in person at the Office of the barn
to which he is assigned, and is paid
each day at the end Of his run.
The company stables are at the north
ern car barns, at Eleventh street and
Florida avenue. Here are twenty-five
horses, used IN the business of the sys-
tenn. One magnificent gray, named
Dewey, has been there for eight years.
A handsome pair Of bays, Bill and Jake,
was recently bought for $3.50. A trouble
wagon is kept here, and the arrange
ment Of harness upon hangers enables
them to hitch and get out in less than
a minute after receiving the summons.
Gen. Harries Praises System.
Gen. Harries, when interview at the
eastern division offices, was most en-
thusiastic in praise of the system fol-
lowed by his road. ITO get good service. 4"
said he, 'Ht is essential to have content
ment. and that is only possible where
there is fair dealing. Our men are not
dependent upon us; We are dependent
upon them as we'll. This employer and
employe business is a mutual affair. We
want men to stay with us-all their lives
II they willard we are willing to dc
g. M raG1llt
When we pension a man we are simply
giving him what he has right to ex-
pect. We make 1t a factor when we hire
him, and it is no favor we do him, but
the fulfIIment Of our agreement when
we begin our association
I'VE exact strict observance OF certain
rules and a gross violation results in a
mans discharge. On the other hand. a
man Is never punished for the seeming
liability for an accident. If II Is proven
that he is guilty of carelessness or negli-
gence, he is discharged, but II the COM
pany is satisfied that the accident was
unavoidable, the man is not displaced.
We stand by our employees when they are
right, always. If they are wrong, we
let them go.
"our men are self-respecting and sober,
and many Of them are eligible for al
most any position. The oftices here are
filed with men who began as motor
men or conductors. When a man comes
up from the ranks that way he knows
his business from A to 2, and Is COM
petent TO direct the newer men. We
have a high grade OF efficiency, and
think we have helped to attain this by
encouragement"
Merit System Organized.
The Capital Traction Company. to en-
courage employees in a faithful perform
ance Of their duty, started the merit
system" on July l, 1908. This is de-
signed to encourage and stimulate en-
pIoyes in the faithful, prompt, and in
telligent performance of their duty"
Under this system all motormen and
conductors are classified. Glass A COM
prises those who have served the COM
pauy two years; Glass B, those who
have served for five years, and Glass C
being those who have served the COM
pany ten years.
For e8ch additional year Of good and
efficient service, members Of Glass A re-
ceive as a gratuitous reward the sum
Of $50 until they have served five years,
and thereby become members Of Class B.
Glass B may receive in the same way,
and under the same conditions, the sum
OF S75 each year until ten years of serv-
ice, when they become members Of Glass
c, which entities them to receive 800
addition to their salary each year.
Later there was added another class
known as Class x, which embraces those
employees who have served one year.
This class entities the members to q
gratuity of s25.
The annual report of the board Of d.
of the Capital Traction Company
for the year ended June 80. 1910, shows
that $1s,s25 was paid out in awards for
service. and the percentage
Of classified employees earning and re-
ceiving awards was 80. This was con-
sidered by the company to he an ex-
cellent showing for the merit system,
and one that proves its usefulness.