From "St. Thomas Daily Times", Thursday, November 22, 1906

         Commercial Men "Gabby"

         Conductors Blame Them Some - Railroad Association to Get After Railway

          The American Association of Railway Conductors is going to take up the case of the Grand Trunk conductors 
          recently let out.  The association declares it to be merely a case of over-zealousness on the part of the
          "spotters" who would have been working the different routes to catch the unsuspecting conductor.

          A railway man was spoken to about it and was asked what would be done:

          "Well, it's like this.  When a conductor is taken into the superintendant's office he is told that he has been 
           caught doing certain things and they demand his punch and badge.  He is asked to resign.  If he does so, 
           he has no redress.  If he refuses to resign, he is then discharged.  Then he has a chance to come back at 
           them.  I'll tell you about one case.  A Toronto conductor was called in and asked to give up his run.  
           He refused and the evidence of the spotter was called for, and the man was let out.  He immediately got 
           after the company.  He was resting  under a shadow, and wanted it cleared up.  He demanded that the 
           company prove that he had not turned in all the money he received on the  train.  The company could 
           not prove that he had not knocked down any money, and the man was re-instated.  He only lost a run or 
           two.  That incident proves that these "spotters" are not always in the right; in fact they are often in the wrong.  
           But, of course, as I said, if a conductor resigns, i don't see what can be done.  If the cases of the others
           who were let out by the company are investigated, I look for many of them to be put on their old runs.  
           I blame the commercial travellers for a lot of the trouble.  Some of them are "gabby" and love to tell how they 
           can "work" certain conductors.  I know of one incident that came to the notice of the London superintendent 
           through a mouthy drummer.  It's too bad, and many a good man is resting under an imputation he does not 
           deserve. I hope they make the company dance for it."

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         TIMES TENDERLOINS

          Hon. Chollie Hyman has gone south for his health.  He is said to be so weak he can't even resign.

          Ed. Smith is finding out what it is to be "stung".  He is nursing a sore arm caused by the business 
          end of a busy bee.

           A city official has suggested that the proposed canning factory be placed alongside the at-one-time 
           proposed pork factory so that the smell from the latter can be "canned".

           Tuesday night the City Council went into committee of the whole to discuss the the pork packing question.  
           That commitee hasn't risen yet, and the Council is still "in the hole".

           But was the Council really in committee of the whole?  By parliamentary procedure the presiding officer 
           leaves the chair when a committee of the whole is formed, and some other member wields the gavel, unless
           it is so special in the resolution.  In St. Thomas, a committee of the whole is somewhat of a joke.

           If the City Council's record is as black as those once snowy-white walls at the city hall there will be an awful 
           day of reckoning on Jan. 7 next.

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