New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-06-05
RAILROAD EMPLOY EES.

The managers of our leading Railroads frequently
hold meetings for consultation Oh subjects of common
interest to their several Companies, and we would
suggest TO them the propriety of considering at one of
these meetings the importance and feasibility OF
framing general code of regulations to govern the
employment, compensation, retention and discharge
of Conductors and Engineers well as to indicate
more clearly their general duties the cases in which
they NAV be required to do oyerwork. and how they
are to be paid for il.
At present this whole business so yitally affecting
the safety of the travelling public and the interest of
the Companies, appears to be in state OF anarchy.
As general rule we believe the Conductors of pas
sepger trains the great roads connected with this
CITY are paid 500 per month; the Engineers about the
same But what amount of study. apprenticeship or
service is requisite to form an Engineer, or what
qualifications requisite for Conductor, II would
puzzle Tombs lawyer TO ascertain. One or two
Companies may have regulations on these points but
there ought TO be and not general regulations
under which the fact that person is employed as
Conductor or En- gncer on any respectful Road would
he yrimG tacie evidence that he had been examined
by Competent and impartial Board and found quail
fed for so great esponsbility-and not merely that
he was cousin OF nephew to influential Director in
the Company aud therefore presumed qualified for
anything.
Then as to Compensation. regular, welI-secured
and promptly paid salary of $50 per month is not
bad even for a man whose business requires hi to
eat on the wing and sleep where night overtakes him.
But there ough, to be some discrimination in favor of
ripe experience and approved service; there should
be something to inspire hope and awaken vigilance
n j.,1I 10,
70 each Conductor or Engineer who shall have served
the same Company five years without committing a
fault or incurrng disaster; and that five years more
of faithful and successful service should ente him
10 like further advance. Now we hear of COnduc-
tors and Engineers changing from Road to Road al
yearly, when the Companies which employ them might
almost certainly retain them by such regulation as
We have indicated. And that these frequent changes
must be prejudical and hazardous alike to the Com
panies and the public We need hardly urge.
Sunday service is another point requiring eonsdera-
ton. That share Of it has TO be performed on
many if not most Roads is at all for having
il done for nothing. And whstever may be the fair
recompense for six days work per week is plainly too
little when a seventh is required 1t is hard enough
TO have TO work Sundays at ALL but work on that
"a! ioI Io'AIns is d uiVl 'VV ""0H' -n0n eHPio!eu
on Railroads or elsewhere when required 10 work
Oh Sundays. should be paid extrs for it.
Tie interest oftLe Companies is identical with that
of the public in demanding that none but of de-
eded capacity careful training unsuilied prObiy aud
exemplary habits, be employed IS Conductors or En-
giHeers heavy pressure Of steam on the Engineer 5
personal boiler has often led to the explosion of that
which he was employed 10 manage. Two-thirds of
the collisions caused directly by heedlessness in.
capacity criminal negligence, on the part of those
responsible for the running Of trains The losses last