THE ROLL CALL
THE ROLL CALL ON MEN AND MEASURES Next: A Full Crew Law THE MOVEMENT for legislation, state and national, to require railroads to man passenger and freight trains with' sufficiently-large crews...
...But such is the record...
...Likewise, in this, as in their attitude toward all other similar legislation, the railroads are pursuing a policy which is short-sighted and which cannot succeed...
...In foggy or stormy weather and in rounding curves it is impossible...
...When, under compulsion of law, the railway companies were obliged generally to institute mechanical braking devices, train crews were generally reduced and it is now the common practice to require two brakemen to handle a freight train which may consist of from 35 to 120 cars...
...In addition to their other duties, trainmen are generally required to assist in the handling of freight...
...The time is ripe for every citizen who is employed by, or who travels on railroads, or who is interested in the public welfare, to take an active interest in behalf of this next step in legislation to promote the safety of employees and travellers upon railroads...
...Tn spite of this opposition, however, legislation requiring railroad companies to man trains with sufficient crews has been enacted in the last few years in the following states: Arkansas in 1907, Connecticut in 1902, Indiana in 1907, Mamf in 1903, Maryland in 1908, Massachusetts in 1906, North Dakota in 1905, Ohio in 1902, South Carolina in 1902, Texas in 1907, and Wisconsin in 1907...
...The nullification of one federal liability law was secured by a bare majority in the Supreme Court...
...Railroad opposition to the safety appliance laws, liability laws, and the hours of service laws did not stop with the legislatures but was carried into the courts...
...At the last session, Senator Borah introduced what is known as the Borah Full Crew Bill and the bill was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, of which Senator Borah is chairman...
...It is hard to believe that such a policy was pursued merely because it was thought that the first cost of equipping trains with these appliances would exceed the immediate saving which would thereby be affected, in the railroad losses through death and injury claims of employees and travellers...
...It is hard to understand why the railroads for nearly a generation fought the laws requiring the provision of automatic couplers, air-brakes and similar devices...
...On the long freight trains that are becoming more and more common it is impracticable for trainmen to signal to each other and be seen even under favorable conditions from one end of the train to the other...
...When crews are insufficient, train operation constantly jeopardizes the safety of the employees and of the travelling public...
...The Arkansas full crew law was attacked in the courts...
...The safety appliance laws have been in force so long, and have operated so well in the interests of both the carriers and the public that we are apt to forget that there ever was any opposition to their enactment...
...Such a practice amounts to gross abuse and the persistence of railroads in adhering to it makes legislation necessary to prevent it...
...Of course, like all other legislation of this kind, it is meeting everywhere the opposition of the railroad managers...
...As with other safety legislation rhe railway opposition to full crew laws has not ceased in the legislatures...
...Write to your Congressman and Senators about it...
...For twenty years the representatives of the railway employees cooled their heels and stood with hats in hand about the corridors of Congress and the doors of legislative committee rooms, seeking the enactment of legislation which would provide some reasonable measure of compensation for the killing and maiming of employees in railroad service...
...THE ROLL CALL ON MEN AND MEASURES Next: A Full Crew Law THE MOVEMENT for legislation, state and national, to require railroads to man passenger and freight trains with' sufficiently-large crews is only another step in the program of needed legislation to promote the safety of employees and travellers upon railroads...
...The hours of service law is now before that court and the railroads have employed the best legal talent in the country to secure its annulment...
...It was opposed in every way by the railroads and its enactment was finally forced by public opinion...
...The railroads, defeated in the lower court, carried the contest to the Supreme Court of the state and there tne law was sustained...
...Full crew legislation is now before Congress...
...But such was the influence of railroads in legislation and such was their opposition toward just liability laws that the enactment thereof was only secured by an overwhelming wave of public indignation...
...The new safety appliances themselves require the careful attention of trainmen...
...The practice of railroad managers in trying to make money by running trains without sufficient crews to secure safety of operation is as reprehensible and short-sighted as their policy in refusing to provide reasonable safety appliances and in working their employees for excessive hours...
...With the increase in traffic and the improvement in roadway and equipment, train loads are becoming constantly heavier...
...Like other legislation of the same character it is meeting with the most vigorous ouposition from the carriers...
...Legislation to promote the safety of employees and travellers upon railroads by preventing excessive hours of service by railroad employees has a similar history...
...Such laws were finally passed only as an incident of a widespread progressive movement for the general regulation of railroads...
Vol. 2 • January 1910 • No. 3
