The Hawaiian gazette., 1911-03-21
TIU, MUTVH II, WI.
c. G. BALLENTYNE


Manager.
Higher cost of living, acknowledg
ment of long and faithful service where
experience counts and is an asset to
both the company and the public were
among the factors in bringing about the
new system of wages which is termed
by the men "The Oakland Scale" as
it is equal in everv respect to that pre-
vailing in Oakland, California.
Thanks of the Men.
A short time after the notice was
posted and when the day men were ar
irving and finding that after all their
years of service, they were to be re.
warded. Conductor Young, who wears
badge No. /, and has been in the service
of the company about ten years, en-
tered the office of General Manager
Ballentyne. The conductor stated that
he had just read the notice and he and
the rest of the men wished to express
their thanks and appreciation to the
general manager feeling that he, as they
were certain had taken a personal in
terest in having the new wage scale
adopted He stated that the men were
immensely pleased and that they now
have something to look forward to, and
he was sure that all would give better
service than ever, although he believed
that they had done their duty AS to
himself. as No. l, he said that the in
crease in wages meant much to him.
He said he wanted to remain in the
service of the company and the new
scale was an incentive to do So
Conductor Young a short time ago
received an offer from Sheriff Jarrett
to take a responsible position in the
police department. At that time Mr.
| Young had no intimation that the Rapid
Trasit company was considering the
schedule Just adopted and was about II
resign. He was told that the wage
schedule was being considered and thai
possibly he would be wise in remaining
a while longer. If the schedule was
adopted he would benefit. And so Mr.
Young is one of the largest benefciariei
of the new system. Motorman Bell
who wears No. l badge for front plat
| form men, also gets the ten-year ser
vice rate. He is one of the most effici
ent men at the brake as Conductor
Young is with the bell cord, and the
company would sustain loss if suel
experienced men felt they would hav,
to leave the service.
Good Investment.
''The new schedule makes a yer,
material difference to the men, sait
Manager Ballentyne. For some of tn,
older men it is a material matter ant
there is now something for all to lool
forward to. I believe the investmen
will be a good one because it bring
to the service a better class of men AM
than wa ara ab1a IN retain their ser
vices. As they become older they be
come more valuable to the system an
more economical in the operation o
the cars and less liable TO accidents
"Tt operates three ways: First, tn
benefit of the men; second, benefit o
the company; third, benefit of tn
public"
The company has in its possession
the wage schedules of other cities an
Honolulu 3 scale is exceeded by onl-
one other on the mainland and that
in Butte. Montana. where the scale i
3s 1,3 to As Oakland is next wit
thirty to forty, and Honolulu has tn
same. Many large cities have wag
scales far below that prevailing here
( Tho mainland schedules at hand are
United Railways. San Francisco. 2
to 33; Salt LEke. 25 10 so; Los Al
Reles, s5 TO 30; Oakland. 30 TO 40; Sa
Diego, 25 to so; Spokane. IS straight
Tacoma. 2a 10 80. after fifteen years
. Denver. - 10 a0i Sacramento. 90 10 32
I Minneapolis, 2l 10 2si Portland, 20 Z
30; Winnipeg. 2i 10 81; Seattle, e5 I
3Oi Butte, ss is TO IS.