The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-08
Another Side of Anti-Pass
Question Is Revealed.
Station Agent on Rock Island
Against New Plan.
HE HAS NO Time TO SMILE
Too Many Responsibilities for
OverwOrked Employee.
Other Items of Interest IN the
Traffic World.

The forum in this column which mas
been opened suddenly for the employee
side of the railroad question in Kansas
has attras ted more than ordinary IN
terest in :lway circles in this state
The innocent ..em coming from ran
way official who advised his employees
to smile upon all patrons when on uuty
has brought an answer from every pa
of Kansas.
Today is published a letter from a
station agent on the Kansas division OF
the Rock Island. This agent brings out
to the average railway patroH lew
of the inside duties of the employee
and a few of the reasons that man
cannot at all times greet the ticket
buyer witt a smile and a top the
morning grin.
And his rrasoi-s overflow with logic
This agent opposes also the incom-
plete plan of the officials to abolish
the distribu ion of free transportation 10
employees.
His letter reads:
Railroad Editor. Topeka State Journal
Topeka Kansas.
Dear Sir-NCting a piece in the STATE
Journal regarding the railroads dlscoA-
tinuing issuing passes TO company ehl-
ployees.
Now 1 have kick coming which of
course as usual will do no good, put
am sure it will do no harm
a
of several years experience and, am
at present employed at a wayside
station Il at pays me about 500 TO S6o
per month, some times more, some
times less. I have been in service on
the Kansas division several years, out
side working various other places Tor
various roads and at the above men
toned salary or wages, which ever
You may call it l have a family to
keep and take care of put in about
3 years-various ways learning the
business to take my first position of re-
sponsibility with a railroad as agent
and operator. After taking my first
position, 1 practically know nothing
compared with what l am to learn
along as I go taking care of a station,
and the mum. Gus duties which 1 am
compelled to do a-.d look after every
cay. besides being eternally ''rawhided"
if | do not do so and so.
Now what l am trying to get at is
the question-Should the railway en-
ployees be denied the use of a small
pass?
The section laborers (foreigners) re-
ceive all he way from $l.35 a day to
81 So per day on extra gangs. They do
not have any responsibility, in any
shape or form They get on a hand car
and push up and down, carry crow
bar around occasionally. appear to be
using shovel or pick or something of
smoking a cigarette) and then get al
most as much per day for their work
a the much oVerworked alton agent
with various responsibilities on his
shoulders. The sta tion agent works
perhaps or 4 years to get enough
ahead to take perhaps one weeks va
ca ton and then-Should he be compelled
to pay his fare if he wants to go down
the line across into another state? No.
He should pick up himself and family
and start down the track on tie path
he makes a living-yes, and that is |
the end of it-He is not permitted to
joy visit down the line few stations. |
but. when he asks for vacation if |
must be for a week or more as the |
company does not care to have the !
auditors come and check YOU out and
relief agent in. for only a couple of !
days. Agents are too scarce for that |
kind of business. But take it in the
larger offices. the clerical HELM are al |
lowed Saturday afternoons and Sum |
days. for rest and vacation-They do |
not have responsibility on their shouI |
ders. The station agent comes on duty
a $50 a. m. perhaps : a. m. He has
any number of various small duties
that must be done by a certain time
He may have 40 cases eggs - barrels
empty beer bottles. Sc sacks of bidaS
cars hay. box of fruit. for as noanyl
different destinations to get ready forI
the local and probably 20 minutes time
before the local freight arrives-besidee
sell dozen local tickets. half a dozen
coupon tickets to New York. etc Dol
you suppose that agent is going to
stand up at the ticket window and