The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-10-13
UNIF oRMs ON RAILROADS.

Ou tLe <Au iuoI law kUve tnso Suoct III WIS Sssso
which will DO Of immense advantage TO the travelling
public. All the employees Of raroaa companies VIII on
that day. in compliance with this law be compelled 70
wear a distinguishing uniform, which will be recognize
bic by . traveller This measure very much
needed and the public will be grateful for IT, Aud
though such measure should have been naugu-
rated long since, the old adage better late than
never" will happily apply in the present case.
Railroad travelling to-day in the United States is
frauSht with danger and attended with more an
noyances than other country in the world. II Is
true an American locomotive the gold modal At the
late Paris Exhibition from competitors representing the
celebrated manufactures in Europe Some OF our
railroad carriages constructed on the most approved
plans; sleeping are better than any similar cars
in use elsewhere yet iaery the public has not ceased
to complain and the public has had us.cause OF COM
plant. Tracks not kept in proper repair and railroad
officials high and low, negectul Of their respective
duties are evils tina. than countebaance any In
provements in machinery accommodation. few
minutes spared in journey by greater speed not OF
much account the traveller who risks death mutia
ZION way from the neglect Of swtchtendsr the
bad condition Of rail the OF necessary repairs
TO 4 bridge. .....
THE SEcrsslrY FOR usIFoRHrsG EMPLOYEES.
In way is the poydgcw in the United States sub.
ject TO annoyances apt TO make mistakes
than in his with railroad officials both
and on the cars from the absence Of any distinguishing
uniform. In this respect comparison between
railway system and that Of England and France would
be greatly to the advantage OF the two stter
Any person who has travelled abroad cannot but have
been pleased with tho attention ana care bestowed BY
railroad corporations both ut their stations and the
trains the comfort and safety Of the passengers Al
some OF the loading cities on the Continent an inter-
preter stands at the ticket office and replies
queries asked in the vcrnacuar OF the traveller On all
railroads the employees distinguished bv appro-
England. also, the employees uniformed, and the
stranger, on entering railway station, can
information he NAV require. The general Characteristic
Of these uniformed employees Is civiy, and insoenco
official brusqueness Ia very seldom met with In the
United Statos railroad employees uniform and
In few only badges required By Law TO be
worn. Tho consequence Is that many annoying mis.
takes occur disputes take place, and often bitter and
unkndly feelings are engendered stranger entering
. railroad depot knows not from whom to ask Tor nor-
nation II would never occur to him that tho lashy
dressed individual with large diamond pin loud necktic
and fast coat who stands on the platform smoking
genuine Havana Is tue conductor Auch less would ne
imagine that the who arc lettering around, atred
moro IKE laborers fresh from the labor OF the field
than railroad employees, there for the express
pose Of assisting the passengers The only answer often
given 70 an inquiry made Of of gentlemaniy
conductors Is q surprised stare Indeed the general
demeanor OF some ~ these gentemn, OFTEN iresn from
rural districts reminds Of the noncalant bearing
OF Southern landlord trsvessd by he late Charles
Matthew'S, Who seated his verands smoking, saiuied
the approaching guest with the following queries in .
brealh:--"Who your Where you fromS Where
are YOU gong and what do ~ The subordinate
officials very rude which may DO accounted
for by the TACT that the msloy OF them are from the
country and unduly elated by the possession Of little
authority.
few Of the members Of the lest Legislature must have
suffered OF the annoyances nseparabe from such
system they would not have acted in the matter. I'm
mindful Of the wants aud complaints OF the public
long tho public only suffered when tho evil reached
themselves u became cinereDt matter altogether.
Whatever may have been the cause II IL one Of the very
State that II passed an act which will make much
needed reform in railroad management a.
far the general public concerned II, however,
has not ali abuses OF the present system
but step in the right direction, and, the thin end
OF the wedge once inserted the rest will foilo~ IN due
time. IN act compelling . careful supervision and
repair OF the tracks aud bridges w next folow and
tho withdrawing verdict often rendered by coro
ners jury OF nobody 10 blame" In cases OF railroad
accidents be dispensed with in future.
On the ed OF last April tho Legislature parsed an act
esr.oSs on r.o.d cs and ~ rotation 20 uniform
for The employees thereof The first section, AFTER
vidng that shall he coupled together whom made
up In trains, In such manner that accidents by failing
between the platforms shall he avoided, goes TO
say
IL shah he the duty Of every railroad company operating
scribe such peculiar uniform external apparel be worn
-. oncss Stations or On or sb IL trsus upon is
tracks shall anly to all travellers distinguish all such
a,e dsngui.h the pos,on rank o. the we:rer in
sSery s5 to provide and wear such sppsr or uni
form when employed =. aforssad And every such com
Uniform ,ad % also he . es generally worn
s To- i S's % .
months. and orr, day OF Jsp,.ry hsTs.t.er he
Attorney General Of this state The ,hs people
thereof for and said penalties for The bench,
Anticipating the objection with which reforms are
met with generally however needed and not ishng the
law TO prove dead letter, ike many other reform
measures, the same clause contains the foosins pro-
vision -
And in Of the refusal omission o. any person
Nv ,s ae or 10 obey any reasonable rs. or rssasson Of
any such company relative 70 the same or the wearing
deduct and retain Tho amour, ~. cen. q
.Se
such company 10 such reason
o. 70 ?, n rs s sr
%ss ssory
Aforesaid VINO shs u.e any ndaeem.n with say psrsoa
Company Of any sppss o. Uniform 50
dessnstsd be shall severay By reason thereof
The second section provdss for NE recovery Of pen
.ss Tor violation % n: law ana ". oursh - MO
eject. o. folows:--
Bach every violation % this BY any railroad COM
ans o. not atty dollars than I've hundred
aos be sued Os and collected IN ne name 2,
snd,hs MONEYS when collected 70 be paid into the general
Tine shan be allowed 20 s railroad companies ccrro
rstsna comply With the OF this act as GLOW
to wtOne quarter Of al the said OF each o. shu
companies corporations shall conform 70 the
requirements OF this act within three months from an
the or this other quarter hereoi
within al months other quarter thereof within nine
month"; and the remaining quarter thereof villain on
year from aud after tho passage 81 this act.
RAILROAD uSiyoaxE
py reference 10 the FIRST clause IL will be seer NE
act Will 80 inio effect the 22d nst and on that Gay
the vari0ns railroad c0mrsnies in the state will have
their employees dressed IN conformity with toe law.
TBk NEW YrsK HARigx RAILROAD CowrANy
has been the ars, sdopt shs uniform aud on the ist