The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-09-04
CLAIM DEPT. TO
STAY In CITY
Howard Announces Adjust
ment OF Complaints Of
Southern Employees.
C0NFERS WITH R. R. HEADS

The claim department OF the South
ern railway system will not be moved
away from Chattanooga. Rumors to
the effect that the department was to
be moved were definitely set at rest
following a conference between OH
clals OF the Chattanooga Chamber OF
Commerce and Vice. President George
Loyal, following which c. w. How
ard, OF the Industrial bureau, an.
nounced that officials OF the road had
given assurance that the department
would not be moved. Mr.. Loyal, to-
gether with James Howell, repre-
sonted President Fairfax Harrison.
The conference was held Saturday.
Employees OF the claim department
have made munyon's complaints OF
high rents, scarcity of suitable houses
and general profiteering. The matter
was brought TO the attention of the
chamber OF com, ! 'roe and tho follow
ing announcement was made by the
Industrial bureau.
Some years ago the Southern rail-
way, In an effort to meet the views OF
their Chattanooga friends. AS well as
to take advantage Of location central
To their system, located the claim de-
partment In charge OF w. III. Gatchell
In Chattanooga. Until few weeks ago
everything seemed to be working In a
manner to Justify the wisdom Of the
company In the move.
Certain employees Of the claim de-
partment developed a desire 20 return
to washington and carry with them
our claim department. The reasons
given was high rents, scarcity OF suit
able homes, general pronteering, from
the price OF meal to the cost OF main
talning family In reasonable comfort.
The bill OF complaint was rather
heavy, order The problem was pre-
scented to the. chamber OF commerce by
James Howell and George Loyal, rep
resentinR President Fairfax Harrison.
A number OF Chattanooga gentlemen
met Messrs. Loyal and Howell In con-
sultaton. II developed that the South
ern railroad was opposed to removal,
but felt that Chattanooga owed II TO
herself and to her good friends In the
official family OF the Southern railway
to make n clean cut effort to remove
ms far as possible just grounds for com
plant OF the employees OF the claim de-
partment--and this will be done.
'This II clearly a case OF II pays TO
advertise Tho claim department To-
Gated IN Chattanooga, employ 100 highly
intelligent men and women. II Ia one
departments OF any railroad. Unless
claims are handled honestly. intelli-
gently and promptly. the department
can create more trouble for the system
than all the diplomats In christendon.
could smooth out. A good claim clerk
Ia like poet--born. not made. These
people came to Chattanooga from n
large city, where their friends and
social relations we're all thoroughly es-
tabllshed. Some OF them have been in
tho service n quarter OF century.
They naturally miss the environments
OF their home town, We Chattanooga
people are very busy, but honestly dc.
sire to make all new citizens feel that
tho town Ia just as much theirs as OF
the individual who proudly boasts that
ned lived In the town for a quarter ~
n century. The personnel OF this Office
In moro valuable to the city than a
plant, employing n
greater number OF people We have
the assurance OF the Southern road
through Mr.. Loyal that the department
viii not he moved from Chattanooga.
but we will not rest our case on that
promise, We will try TO remove the
mind OF the employees In this depart
ment all desire to leave n city whore
every prospect pleases