The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-08
Santa Fe AbOlishes Extra Pay
System With Officers.
Only Shop Men and Freight
Handlers Receive Premiums.
A SIGNAL FOR new METHODS
Reorganization of Mechanical
Department Is Complete.
Ideas of w. b. Storey Replace
Plans Formed by Kendrick.

The change in policy of the entire
mechanical administration of the
Atchison. Topeka & Santa Fe railway
is indicated today by the confirmation
of the rumors in Topeka that the
bonus system adopted under j. W..
Kendrick has been completely revised
and Whitfield. Notifications OF the iase
fall of the axe will be sent out TO fore-
men in the Topeka shops soon When
they will be informed that the bonus
does not apply to them hereafter. IN
other words only the mechanics and
freight handlers on the Santa Fe Will
be working under bonus.
Since w. B. Storey, jr., has been vice
president of the Santa Fe in charge OF
mechanical matters and H. w. JACOBS
formerly assistant superintendent OF
motive power has left the services of
the road, bonus has been given a Sc
we're jolt. The system of extra pay
for extra work applied to supervising
Officers never has been popular with
the Santa Fe. Now that Vice Pres1-
dent Storey is in charge, bonus mas
been applied permanently only TO the
Shopmen and freight handlers.
In all probability here is where the
bonus will rest indefinitely. santa re
officers believe that Lonus with the
mechanics and freight handlers IS
practical. But never have the OIL
cials agreed that bonus with the super
vising officers was a good thing for
the system.
In Effect seven Years.
1t. was seven years ago that Har-
rington Emerson introduced the bonus
system on the Santa Fe- The plan
was to pay employees extra money Ior
extra work. A certain standard was
placed on the efficiency of the depart
ment and when employees exceeded |
this efficiency they were given extra
pay.
The feature was first placed in eff !
feet in the Topeka shops. 1t was fought
with energy by the unions. But the
Santa Fe runs an open shop here ana
the union objection carried no weight /
]. w. Kendrick, then vice president |
IN charge of operation, was friend
of the bonus cause. It was then tnat
H. w. Jacobs came with the santa re
and specialized the work. He organ
lied it all over the system as assistant
Superintendent of motive power
The bonus was tried with track
men. 1t was placed in the clerical de-
partments of many offices Master
visors We're given slice of the ef-
ficieney gained by their men.
First Vice President Kendrick re
signed Then Jacobs went into other
work This left the mechanical de-
partment in the hands of Vice Presi-
dent Storey who did not believe in
bonus for supervising officers.
He started an investigation. The
investigation has ended and the net
work of bonus organization was
broken. First came signs of the aboli-
ton of the system in the clerical de-
partment of Car Accountant Mowers
in Topeka. Others followed. Now the
shop foremen have been notified OF
the change and they will go back on
the steady salary.
Bonus will be kept in the shops
among the men and with the freight
handlers. 1t is believed to be a big
success in these departments. But
officers must give all their
attention to quality and not quantity.
An Increase in Salaries.
Hundreds of Topeka employees are
affected by the change. ALI of the shop
foremen, the mechanical clerks, the
ant clerks work hereafter on a straight
salary basis. The car accountant
clerks have been doing this for several
weeks.
The Santa Fe, however, did not cut
off altogether the revenue of the bonus
vising officers An announcement soon
will be sent to the departments with
the good tidings that an increased SAL
ary is in store for them. This increase
will be made on comparative scale
and under no set rule But it will in
crease the Topeka payroll many thou
sand dollars a year.
1t is unlikely that the offices of gen.
eral bonus supervisor formerly held by
Epler and shop bonus supervisor, for
merly held by Whiteford, will be filled
by other men. The action of John Pur-
cell, assistant to the vice president in
accepting the designations of these two
men undoub btedly means the abolishing
of the offices. according to beliefs in
circles of the road in To-
peka today.
The dream of J. W. Kendrick has
been turned into a nightmare.
But the bonus will stay with the
and with tho froioI,+ hn..ll1e-.- |