The Detroit times., 1914-12-14

The president is street car con-
ductor, the vice-president a motor
man, the treasurer a division super
tntendent, and the secretary an in
spector Of applicants for jobs.
Our only interest In this matter"
says President Lilienthal, is to en-
courage every man In our employ
to own his little home and to see
that he gets that home at the least
possible cost.
The men all think more Of him
as a father than as boss" said the
secretary OF the home builders, with
whom the writer also talked. when
they are In trouble they write letters
to him and when the cause seems
just he helps them. No step is taken
by the cooperative company without
consulting him.
He Is friend whose learning, ex-
perience and position Is of great value
IN the counsel he gives US"
Though the organization so far has
been confined to one division, GA
stockholders have been enrolled and
$4,000 OF stock subscribed for The
company Is capitalized at $4,000 with
shares Of par value Of 81 each.
Stock may be purchased in blocks
OF 90, 100 or 500 shares, with pay
ments at the rate Of $3.50, IS or $40,
respectively.
The company has acquired its land
at rock-bottom price and the closest
possible figures have been obtained
for the construction of houses upon
It The officers serve without salary,
while the legal advice and preparing
OF contracts Is adequate and abso-
lutely free, thanks to the fatherly In
terest OF the U. r. r.
The company will design and build
for shareholder any style of house
desired up to a natural limit OF cost
and will turn II over to the share
holder when completed. on rent in
stallment plan. IL through sickness
or loss OF Jobs the shareholder Is un-
able to meet his monthly payments,
his interest will be carried along un-
I'll he has reached his feet again or
for reasonable length of time.
I'VE found some of our men skep-
tical OF the scheme at first" said the
home builders secretary. Some OF
them thought 1t was simply real e.
tate boost, but all who have investi-
gated the proposition have been con-
WINGED that IL is genuine business
proposition and good one at that.
so far we have worked only among
the men of one division. There are
eight other divisions OF the u. r. r.,
and, Judging by the way the plan has
taken in the one division, It is GER
tain that the stock of the company
will be over-subscribed long before
We cover all the divisions.
THE United Railroads company Is
not financially interested In the Co
operative company, nor are we help
Ing II financially" said President Lii.
ienthal, but we believe 1t to be a
good thing for the men. The scheme
has our moral support and we are
encouraging the men to support II.
I'VE insist upon seeing all con.
tracts before they are closed to make
sure the men do not obligate them
selves for anything until the money
Is In sight. Their meetings are held
in our offices and under our super
vision, but we have carefully re-
Trained from influencing them In the
selection of their officers or other sim
liar action.
IL personally will not interfere with
the plan only as much or as little as
the men themselves want me to. The
ultimate purpose is to help every en-
ploye TO own his own little home and
the benefit OF our experience and
knowledge is always at their service
to prevent the making OF mistakes"
Lilienthal isn't a railway man by
choice. He Is one OF the highest
priced corporation lawyers in the
west. But his policy of helping the
employees Is netting the company far
more than it's old policy of watered
stock and grinding down of the men.