The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-11-26
BARDO EXPLAINS WHY RAILROAD
 FAILED TO ACT
"New Haven" Official In Lengthy Statement Tells
 of Situation.
To the Members of the Manufacturers'
 Association of Connecticut, Inc.

Association of Connecticut, Inc.
 There is submitted herewith a state ment made to your Association by MT. c: L. Bardo, General Manager of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, on the subject of freight service.
 This statement by MT. Bardo grew out of a meeting of representatives of this Association with him in New Haven a few weeks ago for considera- ton of the Associations request that the New Haven Railroad restore the pra ctice of keeping records of trans fers of L. c. L. freight, and has to do with the reasons advanced by the railroad management for not taking the action requested.
 While the Association is still of the same mind with reference to the mat ter of record-keepfng, 1t also recog- nizes the importance of the matters set forth by MT. Bardo. It seemed desirable, therefore, that inasmuch as every member of the Association is vitally interested in the matter of adequate and efficient transportation service, MT. Bardo's statemeD of ths policies and endeavors of the rail- road management should be made available to each member. Without 
 the matters presented by MT. Bardo, his communication is submitted here with, as follows:
 'It is indeed a pleasure to know that your Association stands ready and willing to cooperate with the carriers in the matter of expediting shipments, fnsuring prompt deliveries, and eliminating unnecessary work.
 ttAS you well know labor conditions have for the past several weeks stead fly grown worse, yet this fact has not deterred the management from mak ing every effort to improve the ser vice.
 'tAsuyou we'll know labor conditions have for the past several weeks steadily grown worse, yet this fact has not deterred the management from making every effort to improve the service.
 Checking System.
 'AS long ago as the latter part of May plans were under way for im- proved loading and a vigorous cam patgn was started which has been closely and continuously followed. It was found that the former system of allowing delivery checks to be handed direct to the drayman or con- signees often time delayed delivery due to the check becoming lost or misplaced and under such conditions there was a probability of the pack age being lost sight of, provided 1t was not 1egibly marked. Now, how ever, the plan of retaining delivery checks, handing to the drayman or consignees the arrival notice, for the purpose of identification at the cashiers desk, has unauestionably contributed to more prompt deliveries and avoiding confusion arising from loss of delivery checks.
 Agents at all freight stations are instructed to take a monthly inven- tory of all freight on hand. At ths larger stations such inventory Is taken every seven days. This brings to light package freight that might remain on hand due to neglect on the part of draymen or consignee. Such ship ments are made the subject of a special form of notice to the con- signee and such notices are c1ose- ly followed up until the deliveries are made or disposition furnished by the shipper or consignee.
 Statistics kept in the Boston Freight Claim office show that the new classification requirement., which compels shippers to mark each sep arate item plainly with the name of one consignee and one destination, has resulted in a decrease in tn g number of unclaimed packages of substantially 80 per cent.
 Early in June 1919 the veri-check system of loading was instituted. Thi s means that each truck load of freight for a given destination is tallied into the car and that the check covering je,1 jT, fled by an emp1oye acting in a super vising capacity. Since the adoption of this system the errors of loading have steadily decreased. As additional safeguard the way-bills when turned back by the checker are rechecked by an employe, known as the rack clerk, who compares the block num- Der with the car number appearing on the diagram. The bills are again verified before being placed in the pouch. 6
 sThe Station Service Department has specialized on more correct load ing for the past ninety days and the figures compiled by that Department show that there has been an appreci- able decrease in the number, of errors made. Such errors as occur are, how ever, brought to the attention of the operating officials in charge of the division and followed through the local freight office down to the em- ploye who actually failed to do what was required. A record of errors of the various employees Is maintained at the local office. This for the pur- pose of wedding outsthe incompetent
 Overcharge Claims.
 gro insure the collection of proper charges way-bi1ls at delivery points are now being carefully revised as to rate, extension, etc. Such action must necessarily bring to the lowest possible minimum overcharges or un- dercharges, which have previously been the source of annoyance to the public Insofar as possible, particu- larly, at the larger stations complete file. of tariffs is maintained, that will enable the delivering agent to revise the rates and make proper collection It is safe to say that there will be 2 | steady decrease in the number oi | claims presented for overcharges, par. condition from consumption that her demise is daily expected. z At the recent meeting of the Fair 1 field County Farm Bureau in Dan- bury, A. B. Barnes. was chosen di.