The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-12
RAILROAD NEWS.
No Gifts From Manufacturing
Firms This Year.
Railway Men Admit Christmas
Presents Are Embarrassing.
ALI. OVER COUNTRY
ALL OVER COUNTRY
A General Sentiment Against
Practice of Former Years.
Other Items of General Interest
in Traffic World.

The reform" movement in the
United States has gone so far that
railway men have made themselves
plain against receiving presents and
remem branceS'' from manufacturing
Trims over the country. In this city,
LOT instance, officials of the Santa Fe
ana ROCK Island receive various arti-
cles from railway manufacturing con
Germs every Christmas season Some
tlnes 1t is cigars, again it may be jew
cry. All OF the head officers are re-
clpents of these holiday gifts.
Since railway officers all over tbe
country have limited that it places
lhem IN an embarrassing situation to
receive these presents, many firms
have decided to discontinue the prac-
tice this year.
In the current issue of the Railway
and Engineering Review the sentiment
OF the railway men is expressed:
among other practices which have
gradually grown up and have been
adopted by many manufacturers and
dealers in railway supplies against
their better judgment, is that of giving
Christmas presents to railway men.
1hlS mas been excused as merely an
expression Of good will, having no ac-
tual influence on business, and being
merely matter of good fellowship.
The care exercised in making up lists
of recipients, seems to indicate that
the good fellowship is coextensive with
business dealings, actual or prospec-
tive.
MANY railway officials have been
EN- barrassed by the receipt of such
'remembrances' They did not want
them and especially resented being
claSsed with the receivers of tips New
erthelesS 60 send them back or to re-
fuse to receive them, seems like be-
ing too thin skinned. 1t seems to at
tach too much possible importance to
trivial matter; and to imply that a
petty bride was intended where it
really was not Some of them have re-
distributed the gifts or bestowed them
IN charity. One who did not smoke,
received forty or fifty boxes of good
cigars every yuletide, and arranged to
sell them and devote the proceeds to
his pet benevolence.
But many long established prac-
tees are falling into 'innocuous desue-
some which were merely open to mis-
construction We are not surprised
to learn, therefore, that some large
manufacturing concerns have decided
to drop the practice entirely this year
and for the future. This fact may en-
holden some others to do the same.
There may be some little feeling over
the matter; and, those who keep up
the practice will dOu btless think that
its discontinuance by others has in
doubt whether in the long run, good
will purchased by such trifles, is of
any great value.
In past years we have taken occa-
sion to depreciate gift making and
taking. The criticism has been taken
more kindly by railway men than by
the manufacturers, and it is probable
that some will still resent it. 1t is a
pretty safe estimate that the sum of a
quarter of a million dollars has been
expended in this way each Decem Der,
for some years. We do not apprehend
that all Of this sum would go to the
railways in the shape Of reduced
prices of supplies, if the practice were
stopped-perhaps none of it, but the
money is the least consideration. A
practice which EN- harnesses as many
recipients as it pleases, and which is,
to say the least, open to misconstruc-
tion.' ought to be consigned to the
limbo of the past 1t will cause
restraint in the trade in cigars, UNI
breIlas, jewelry, and many articles of
virtu luxury, and utility. But no le
gal action will be taken against the
restrainers. The word is quietly being
passed around that appropriations to
purchase Christmas gifts are in bad
form for railway supply manufacture
ers this year.