The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-02-27 00:00:00

THE ABIALOAMATED SOCIETY OF
RAILWAY SERVANTS.

On Saturday the quarterly meeting of the executive
committee (the governing body) of the Amalgamated
Society of Railway Servants, which extended over
four days, was brought to a close at the chief offices
of the society, City-road, Mr. Clement E. Stretton,
C.E., vice-president and consulting engineer to the
society, in the chair. Delegates were present from
Gateshead, Sunderland, Accrington, Openshaw,
Leeds, Staveley, Leicester, Wellington, Bedford,
King's Cross, Newport (Mon.), Pontypool, and Bat-
tersea. The general secretary, Mr. Edward Harford,
in bringing up his report, said that this quarterly
meeting had been a most important one, as the exe-
cutive had to deal with, among other matters, the
question of direct Parliamentary representation, pro-
posed legislation for greater safety in railway work-
ing, the coupling question, and the forthcoming prac-
tical trials of improved appliances. On the question
of direct Parliamentary representation of railway
servants, a sub-committee submitted the fol-
lowing report: "The congress held at Leicester
last October having adopted the principle of
direct representation in Parliament, and left the
arrangement of details to the executive, we have care-
fully considered the most essential feature—viz., the
formation of a fund for this purpose. The principle
of a voluntary fund was also adopted by the congress,
but on the reco_nmendation of the society's president
(Mr. P. S. Macliver) it has occurred to us that a
much safer and more dignified plan would be to pay
all expenses incurred in carrying out such a scheme
from the funds of the society. With a view, there-
fore, of giving the members of the society an oppor-
tunity of expressing an opinion on the matter, we
submit the following alternatives: 1. That a parlia-
liamentary representation fund be created by a levy
of twopence per member on the whole of the branches,
and the sum so raised be merged in the protection
fund, and the rules so altered as to allow the payment
of salary and the election expenses of our representa-
tive in the House of Commons. 2. That the whole
sum necessary be raised by a voluntary subscription
of sixpence per annum." This having been considered
by the whole executive, it was resolved that a circuity
embodying the proposals be issued to the branches
inviting replies to be considered at the next quar-
terly meeting of the executive. A vote of thanks
was passed to Mr. F. A. Channing, M.P., for
having given notice of the introduction of a bill for
the better regulation of railways, and it was resolved:
"That copies of the bill to provide greater safety on
railways be printed and issued to the branches, with
a request that they bring the matter under the notice
of members of Parliament in their divisions, and
urge them to support the same. Further, that two
sets of petitions in favour of the bill be drafted; one
to be signed by the chairman and secretary of each
branch, the other by railway men and the public."
On the question of continuous brakes, the executive
passed the following resolution: "That this com-
mittee impress upon the Board of Trade the desira-
bility of arranging with the various railway companies
for a complete trial of the various forms of continuous
brakes, so as to decide which of them best complies
with the conditions laid down by the Board of Trade
in their circular addressed to the companies, dated
August 30, 1877." On the important subject of the
forthcoming practical trial of improved couplings,
which is to take place by permission of the South-
Western Company, at Nine Elms, the following
resolutions were passed: "That prizes of £lOO, £.50,
and £25 respectively be awarded as first, second, and
third prizes to automatic and non-automatic coup-
lings, which, in the opinion of the jurists, best fulfil
the conditions already agreed upon at the time of
trial." That the inspecting officers of the Board of
Trade, Clement E. Stratton, Esq., consulting engi-
neer; L. Saunders, Esq., editor of Railway Engineer;
and J. Stephenson, Esq., North-Eastern Railway, be
respectively requested to act in conjunction with this
committee in adjudging the merits of the respective
couplings at the time of trial." Amongst the other
business transacted was the granting of £2O each to
20 persons from the superannuation fund; accidental
allowance to seven families; and several weekly grants
to the orphans of railway men. Thanks to the
chairman and the general secretary closed the pro-
ceedings.

" Squildig," said Podsnap, this morning, I notice
in the papers that female dentists are gaining ground
in Germany.' "Yes." "Well, what I want to know
is how a dentist can gain ground." "That's simple;
the same way that a farmer gains ground." "How is
that?" "By pulling stumps.