Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-02-12
BETTER SERVICE
CAMPAIGN OPENS
Express Company Employees Meet
ing Marks Beginning OF Drive
for improvement.

The nationwide campaign in
augurated by the American Hall
way Express company to bring
about better methods Of packing
and marking express shipments
began last night with the first OF
a series of meetings OF express
employees to be held in this city
during the month OF the drive.
Last night Agent F. W. BLACK
called together groups OF MS CO
workers and urged them TO put
their full force behind the compre-
hensive campaign now under way
and to work with shippers IN &C
complishing decisive results IN
lettering the express service.
Vehicle men, depot platform and
claim bureau and once employees
were each addressed by the agent
or his -four minute men," who
made stirring appeals for their &C
tive cooperation and keen interest
in the drive. The speakers told
the express workers that they, IN
diVidually and collectively, could
give valuable aid in the campaign
by bringing their work up to the
highest standards. There is room
for improvement everywhere. they
stated Owing to conditions
brought about by the war, they ad-
nitted, the express service had not
been as good as the company had
expected to make it. But with
these obstacles removed and every
expressman doing his part, the
way has been cleared for very
marked change for the better.
In urging the men to seek the
cooperation of shippers in the
drive the agent brought to the at
tention of the drivers the neceS-
sity of giving them all the aid pos
sible in bringing their packing and
marking methods up to the re-
Quired standard. 1t was acknow-
lodged that the manner of packing
and marking varies with the COM
modities, but the question of
whether a shipment is in proper
condition for handling to destina-
ton safely must be left to the good
judgment OF the driver, who has
been thoroughly instructed on the
rules and regulations.
After the -four minute" speeches
Agent Black announced the ap-
pointment of a better service cam
paign committee, made up of the
following: E. L. Neither, r. H.
Black and F. B. Moller, represent
ing each branch of local organi-
zation He requested the men Sc
lected to keep watch on the con-
ditions of business as it passed
through the terminals and to call
personally on shippers whose con-
signments needed attention
One of the most serious prob
lens that the express company has
TO face is that of mo mark" eX-
press matter, the agent stated
cause of their inadequate packing
or marking. lose all trace of iden-
tification, either of the shipper or
the consignee. and must be sent to
mo mark bureaus" where an eff
fort is made to put them back on
the right track. The use of tags
was discouraged, except where alb
solutely necessary, and then two
should be added.
The present campaign is re-
garded as one of the most signif-
cant and important steps taken by
a transportation agency for the
betterment of it's service. The 10
cal meetings here are held stimuli
taneously with similar gatherings
Of express employees in every city
and town in the country. A sec
ond meeting of the series will be
held next week and other topics of
pertinent interest to the campaign
will be taken up.