The Washington herald., 1912-01-05

cHAs. H. PERRY. atiyeIy short
time that he has been in ONCE.
President Cortelyou has been much In
public life. has been a member OF labor
unions. always labor's friend, never its
hater. No employer Of labor knows his
employees better. His every action and
speech when attending their social af-
fairs or listening to a committee with a
real or fancied grievance has demon
strated that his aim Is TO be not only
fair and just but to make the men and
women in the company's employ feel
that there is something more between
them than the position Of employer and
employe. No employer realizes more than
Mr.. Cortelyou that to have earnest, con-
scientous, and loyal employees they must
be happy and contented, and to secure
this very desirable condition the best
method is to apply the Golden Rule.
The Company's Conditions.
The longest hours of work are nine
hours, reduced by Mr. Cortelyou from
ten. eleven. and twelve hour shifts
The longest period OF work for 50 per
cent Of the men is eight hours, reduced in
the grades where this scale operates from
nine. ten. and eleven hours.
The question OF girls wages was taken
ner. He ascertained that % a week was
the smallest sum one could live on, ac-
cording to the standards set by social In
vestigators. He made 50 the minimum
for every girl employe. no matter how
humble or casual her position.
No mans wages were cut when his
hours were cut, and full hour is allowed
for dinner.
Vacations are permitted to all men en-
ployed for more than four years. each
vacation being for a week at full pay.
All overtime work IS paid for at one
and one-half times the regular rate, pro-
vided Il Is done before midnight: after
midnight. emergency work is paid for at
double rates. as is also work on Christ
mas and New Years.
In summer employees receive half holi-
days every other Saturday.
Lunches and Cool Drinks.
Coffee in cold weather and fresh milk
and buttermiIk in warm weather are kept
in all shops; sandwiches are also fur
nished on cold nights when there is late
work.
A special, school OF instruction" is
maintained for bright young men having
a distinct mechanical bent. These young
helpers are sent TO this school under full
pay. TO be graduated as expert mechanics
capable OF receiving the highest compen-
sation.
Both the company and the men con-
tribute jointly to a pension fund. and
the company has a settled policy OF re-
tanning feeble men on its pay roll. In
stead OF discharging them. the men going
to lighter and lighter work and shorter
hours at the salary paid in their best
wears.
In cases Of death In a family the Mu-
ee .-.kF-
during Illness; in cases where this amount
Is insufficient the committee in charge
may spend any amount II wishes to meet
the emergency. The company furnishes
30 cents for every 81 contributed by the
men TO these funds.
Medical Service Free.
Every employe has the services OF the
lawyers free In case of need.
Every employe similarly has the services
Of a physician at his call without charge.
No empIoye leaving the company has to
leave behind him money paid into the
benefit funds; he receives back all cash |
paid in, less only the amounts paid to |
him I'm BENEFITS; TO insure the safe-keep-
ing of the fund the company takes Il over |
for investment ami pays full interest
There are scores OF big employers who |
know vastly less than George B. Cortel- |
you about the cost and responsibilities OF |
abor warfare, and realizing as he does I
that in the great majority Of controver- |
sizes II both parties came together willing \
to adjust their differences and /
both parties grant concessions as the ex-
gencies OF the case would seem to de-
nand, then the public win have heard the
ast Of labor troubles, a contingency de-
to be wished for. To achieve
that very desirable end, as far as the
Gas Company OF the City
Of New York Is concerned, its president
has arranged so that the 'latchstring"
II his private office il always out to any
.mpIoye who thinks he has any cause
Tor complaint. CHARLES II. FERRY.