The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-07
SANTA EE BONUS.

1t was a diplomatic and benevolent
move on the part of the Atchison, To-
peka & Santa F'e railway-this dec
laration of a bonus to some 10000
employees of the system as a holiday
gift for efficient and loyal service.
Diplomatic, in that it served to please
the employees and guard the road
against an over-indulgepce of prosper
ity; benevolent not in the sense of
charity, but in the relief of family
needs during these times of high living
costs.
Some railway critics will say that
President Ripley fostered the ten per
cent bonus as a direct slap at the
unions-that he excluded organized la
Dor from the benefits owing to the
recent bitter fight over the Adamson
law. There may be a little truth to
the argument-and there may not
But to the rank and file of the 10000
favored employees it was most agree
able gift from clear sky, presented
from the heart of Americas greatest
transportation system.
The Santa Fe solved a great indus
trial problem in its promise of a bonus
distribution. Instead of granting the
employees a raise in wages the road
granted ten per cent of the annual SAL
airy as a gift. 1t amounts to a ten
per cent raise for the last year, to be
sure. On the other hand it makes no
rash assurances for the future-it
arouses no false hopes in the minds
of the employees
There is no doubt that the bottom
is going to fall out of this war-fiIled
prosperity bucket. When Europe can
cells her extravagant orders with one
hand and with the other dumps cheap
labor into this country, something
must happen. The result is no rnys-
terry. Mushroom factories will shake
their CRATES and lavishly paid laborers
will be thrown on their own resources.
Students of economics agree on this
ultimate effect of peace.
In the east where the war has been
most kind to labor and capital alike,
thousands will be thrown out of en-
ployment and other thousands must
suffer decrease in wages. Manu-
featuring institutions cannot pay
shrapnel salaries on buckshot receipts.
1t is the problem of the morrow.
No doubt the Santa Fe mas profited
by war earnings. Freight traffic has
been enormous. Every car and loco
motive has been taxed to furnish net
earnings.
Very naturally the Santa Fe has
realized the opportunity to favor the
employees who work without contract
who have no organization to better
working conditions and demand in
creased wages. How were these EN-.
ployes to be granted a raise? By a
wholesale salary boost?
Apparently. the Santa Fe answered
this question with a ten per cent
bonus.
By this method the road gives en-
ployes ten per cent raise for the
year 1915. If war prices continue
there is chance, of course, that the
road will be able to repeat the act next
year. But if peace be declared. If
Europe punctures prosperity as quick
ly as she inflated it, the Santa Fe
must suffer along with the rest of the
country. If the road had given the
employees flat increase in wages the
burden would have either necessitated
slicing of men from the payro1ls or
slicing the payroll figures. Accus-
toned to a new standard of living nm
der a. higher wage, EMPLOYEES wou1d
suffer-and the road would lose the
loyalty and cooperative spirit so evil
dent IN late years.
So in order to avoid future compli-
cations and dissatisfaction, the Santa
Fe has slipped down the chimney in
real Santa Claus form and deposited
an unexpected and welcome stocking
full with the employees who have done
so much toward the roads success
THE COAL SITUATION.