handled them. Some day you will have similar problems at your station, and if you had been there and listened you would know just how to handle them immediately and probably prevent much trouble which might terminate in having to call for help from the auditor or the superintendent.

we

Among the most interesting subjects of the meeting was the wage question which hope will result in a nice little increase in salaries.

The question of help at several stations was thoroughly discussed and those agents who have not enough help to satisfactorily handle their station were instructed in the proper course to pursue. We fought hard

to obtain an eight hour day contract and now that we have it, we should contend to maintain it. We should give the company eight full hours per day of hard conscientious work and if we then do not finish all the work at our station, and the management does not allow us any over time, then quit right there and notify the management that your eight hours are up and that your station work is not finished for the day. An agent should have sufficient help to keep his station in an up to date condition. This would save a great many long trips for the traveling auditor, to straighten out an agent or help him catch up at the end of the month. Overwork and trying to rush it through is largely responsible for many errors, and omission of entries on the reports and balance sheets.

The car job matter was again brought up and left oper for further negotiations with the management. This should be brought to a conclusion at an early date. Every railroad in the United States has always made their dispatchers and car men from men on the line and there is no reason this road should refuse this legitimate promotion. The men who remain with the company and perform satisfactory service are entitled to it. Operator McCormick (a non) has been on the car job long enough. he moves

til

one way or the other the rest of us are at a dead standstill.

Bro. Milliams, second Southern Junction, is on ninety days' leave visiting relatives in Kentucky.

Bro. Hopkins is now with the freight department as "city soliciting freight agent" in Nashville, relieved on first Watertown by Miss Mila Shoemake.

Bro. Green is on Southern Junction. Bro. Johnson, second Crossville, is relieving Bro. Simmerel for ninety days.

A special invitation has been sent to all members to be present at the next regular meeting, June 20th (Sunday night). It's going to be the biggest one we have ever had and no one can afford to miss it.

The meeting in July, which falls on Sunday, the 18th, is reunion night and every member and their wives and families are re

quested to attend. If you have no family bring your sweetheart and let's enjoy a big night.

Remember, brethren, do your duty and "No cards, no favors."

J. F. L., "Old X."

New Orleans Gt. Nor. R. R., Div. 179. "Cleanliness is next to godliness."

We can't be gods, but we can be clean. It seems the members of our division appreciate this fact, for general manager and party, on a recent inspection trip, gave us a very favorable report on the neat appearance of our stations.

Would like to see more 179 members take part in the discussions of "Our Correspondents" department. Come in and get your share of the criticism or applause, as the case may be. If you find fault with an article, take issue with the author, and give him "your side" of the case. CERT. 46.

Chgo., T. Haute & So. Eastn., Div. 180. Illinois Division

L. O. Osmon, to second West Dana; J. C. Lucas, third Delmar; W. H. Burke, second Johannott; Jesse Mann, second Webster, and A. R. Gee, first Seymour.

General Chairman Powell on a trip to California, relieved by Bro. W. A. Ogden, and he at Latta by S. E. Kirke, a new man. Yours truly acting as general chairman during Bro. Powells' absence.

The meeting called by the writer at the Aetna Hotel, Danville, Ill., May 15th, was attended by eleven members. It was decided to hold another meeting this month. Brothers, these meetings are of great benefit in getting us acquainted with each other and promoting our welfare.

Send me some notes and we will try and have a write-up each month.

A. R. BLYTHE, L. C.

Mo. & No. Ark. Ry., Div. 182. Bro. Luter off a few days on account of the death of his 4 months' baby and Bro. Brasfield was called to Dyersburg, Tenn., owing to the death of his grandmother.

Bro. Robertson, Eureka Springs, is being relieved sixty days by H. K. Hull.

Bro. Murphy is visiting Joplin, Springfield and other places. We wish him a pleasant time.

Proposed increase presented general manager April 28th. Nothing agreed to. All papers forwarded to Bro. Manion for handling with Labor Board.

We are now about 98 per cent. Get after the non next to you, brothers, and let's have a solid division. "No card, no favors," and stick together.

Ye scribe is back on GO.

"STEVE", L. C., Cert. 61.

La. Ry. & Navigation Co., Div. 183.

Our May write-up reached St. Louis too late to be published, being delayed enroute. Our division, organized just a little over a year, is still one hundred per cent ahead of any we know of today, and we aim to keep it that way. The "nons" can't get by Bros. Latil and Reynolds.

Our new contract was signed and in effect April 16th, one year and fifteen days from the time we got the first one. Everybody got something; all the jobs put up about right; all telegraph positions up to standard and some a little above. Operators in dispatcher's office, Shreveport and Baton Rouge, have to be capable to do extra dispatching, which makes it nice for them, as the dispatchers get two days off a month with pay but no annual vacations, while dispatchers on other roads get one day off in every seven with pay and their annual vacation. Outside of this all jobs were made satisfactory, and everybody seems well pleased. Bro. Latil did all he could to get us what he did, for which we are very thankful.

Third trick dispatcher, Bro. Burkhalter, Shreveport, has gone into the traffic department as commercial agent, with headquar

ters in Shreveport. He and Bro. Hayden were on the committee with Bro. Latil. Bro. Hag. gard is now regular third trick dispatcher at Shreveport, Bro. Heath breaking in to do extra work.

Bro. Reynolds has returned and is now doing extra dispatching in Baton Rouge. We are glad to have him back with us.

We all hated very much to lose our standard rule man, but the company will em ploy another man in that capacity at once. to immediately go over the system and examine all employes who do telegraphing and handle train orders on standard rules. Those not in a position to pass this examination are going to be left, as you can not work elsewhere until you have first passed on these rules. We hope to see an immediate improvement in some of you now giving the poorest service possible on the train wires. Had it not been for the dispatchers on this system, you would be where you were over a year ago, and you don't seem to know it. Operators are very scarce here, and we can always use a few good ones.

Trust we will have a correspondent by next issue, so we can get out some news as to what's going on. CERT. 54.