The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-17
A. C. |. CONDUCTORS
THREATEN TO STRIKE
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make a check of your conductors
the same as they now make of agents.
During this time, kilograms and
letters were coming in from the con.
ductors. complaining of the way they
were being treated by the operators of
the White Audit System.
The committee appealed to Presi-
dent Kenly to suspend the operation
of Circular No. 80. pending further
negotiations.
Further negotiations developed that
a satisfactory settlement could not
be reached. and President Kenly was
notified that the committee could not
accept the company's position, with
out referring the matter to the con.
ductors for their decision.
We think it proper to state at this
time, that the conductors on the At
lantic Coast Line have, and are now
compelled to audit all transportation,
which is an additional burden to their
other duties. This work has long
since been transferred to the Audit
or's office on the Southern Railway
and Seaboard Air Line.
To comply with the requirements of
the White Audit System, Form 224 IL
has been introduced. 1t developed
that it would be a physical impossi-
bility to comply with this form at all
times. This was recognized by the
general manager after the committee
had an opportunity to discuss the
question with him. Circular No "a
was then issued, which only relieves
in part the additional burdens placed
on the conductors.
The Southern Railway put into eff
feet July 1, 1915, an audit system fol
checking their conductors-con
by bona fide employees of the Southern
Railway. This was not made effective
until after the matter was fully dis
cussed with the representatives Of
the conductors. Had the Atlantic
Coast Line Committee been given the
same opportunity to discuss with thu
officials Of the company, the puttine
into effect of an audit system, thu
same as the Southern Railway Com
mittee, a satisfactory settlement
might have been reached.
President Kenls' refers to the Fed
eral Law-the inference being that I
Ills necessary to establish the Whit,
Audit System on the Atlantic Coas
Line, in order to comply with the Law
as construed by the Interstate Com
merce Commission.
We wish to say, in this connection
that the Atlantic Coast Line conduc
tors are just as anxious to compl,
with the provisions of the law. as 1,
the company.
President Ken1y refers to the chair
man of the conductors committee
presenting for the first time, on Jan
uary 20. list of questions as to tn,
operation Of the system.
The questions were submitted IA 4.
tentative proposition only, in the hop,
that way might be found to reacf
satisfactory settlement. His refusa
to concede Question 10, which is a,
follows:
! will the company agree to al
audit system conducted by its bon,
hde employes?"" made it impossible,
for the committee to accept his an
swer to the questions submitted b,
the General Chairman.
The conductors all over the countr,
are well aware of the unreliability o.
spoilers" reports. General com
mittees have colleced Thousands q,
dollars back pay. from the railroad
companies. on account of vicious. er
roneous, and unfair reports made b,
interruptions men whose sole objec,
is to make good with their employe,
in order to hold their jobs.
Many OF the conductors on the At
iantfc Coast Line have given the bes
years OF their lives to the service o.
the company. and they are unwillin,
at this late day. 70 subscribe to an,
system that carries with It, the Cd