The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-16
Il. PRESIDENT MAKES
STATEMENT.
FOLLOWING the Threatened Strike of
Passenger Conductors.


Coast Line because of refusal of the
company to remove a checking sys-
tenn recently installed, a statement to
the conductors has been issued from
Wilmington by ]. r. Kenly, president
Of the Coast Line.
The statement relates to the dis
agreement of the company and the
conductors committee as to the
White Audit System employed by the
railroad since January Is. and follows
advices Of the conductors that vote
Is being taken among the men to de-
termine further action. Conductors are
now canvassing the line for votes on
this question. with the intimation that
strike will result if the vote is un-
favorable to the system.
The position taken by the conduc-
tors In the matter is stated clearly in
resolutions sent by the conductors
committee to the company, a portion
of which is quoted in the statement
of President Kenly, as follows:
BE 1t further resolved, that in the
event OF your refusal to suspend the
operation of circular No. 33. that the
general committee Of adjustment for
conductors of the Atlantic Coast Line,
through the general chairman, S. J.
Brooks. hereby puts you on notice
that the conductors will not stand for
any of the conductors being disciplin-
ed under the proposed audit system,
or any other system that you may
choose to inaugurate and put into
effect. that has not been mutually
agreed upon and accepted by the con-
ductors' committee and all conductors
properly notified
What will be the result of the pres
ent canvassing Of the line by the. con-
ductors has not been stated, although
1t is understood many are voting not
to accept the new audit system.
The statement of President Kenly,
which reviews the controversy in re-
gard. tothe. audit system. shows that
eleven or more conferences have been
held between the conductors commit
tee and various officers Of the com.
pany, without agreement being reach
ed.
The conductors propounded a list
of questions, which were submitted to
the company or answers. The -ques-
tions were, answered apparently to
their satisfaction, except the. last two
propounded. One of these asked for
the elimination of form 224, with the
exception Of the part relating. to cash
fare. and the other asked if the COM
pany would agree to an audit system
conducted by it's bonaflde employees.
To the first question the company re-
piled no, and to the second replied
that 1t intended to give the present
system a fair and impartial trial.
Thirteen questions were asked relat-
ing mainly to what would be the
rights of the conductors in the pres
ent system.
AS shown in the statement the con-
ductors' committee made a number
Of objections to the White audit sys-
tenn. One was that it involved a
check made by persons other than
employees of the company and others
questioned the fairness Of the check
ing system because of situations the
conductors would have to confront
The prime objection made, as set
out in the statement, was that the
checking Of the accounts of a conduc-
tor subjects him to humiliation, be-
cause it involves the inference that
he Is suspected of dishonesty.
"The company replies to this" said
President Kenly, that no honest man
need be humiliated by the simple
checking of his accounts; that 1t re-
quires checking Of every other Of
ncer or employee in it's service who
handles it's funds; that this system of
auditing the accounts Of all it's agents
is plain business proposition which
Is in vogue in all conservative and
properly managed business organiza-
tions. and it is necessary, not only for
the proper handling of it's revenue,
but in order to comply with the re-
quirements of the law"
After summarizing the facts in the
controversy and the positions taken
by the company and the conductors,
President Kenly closed with the state
ment that it was his purpose to make
clear the fact that the company had
no desire to impose burdensome reg