The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-02
APPEALING TO CONGRESS.

Railway Conductors Want To DO Lii
censed and Improved"
Prom the New York Herald.
The railway passengers life is not a
happy one.
II II inferred that everybody will admit
the above statement to be true.
In making such remark the sympathies
Of the habituRl traveller are appealed 10,
and lac or she Is asked to summon from
the realms Of thought the misty forms OF
the railway conductors they may have
shivercd before upon various occasions,
and also 10 recall the many terrible rail
way disasters which have startled the
world Of late years.
Well, IL Is proposed 10 try 10 improve
railway service in general and railway con-
ducton In particular.
Naturally, the travelling world is here
expected to breathe sigh Of relief.
This Is how Il Is suggested to begin the
good work; 10.
TuE 80. n. c.'s' hill.
A bill providing for licensing railway
conductors on certain railways within the
United States" will shortly be presented to
Congress, and the most powerful organiza
ton Of the said conducton-the 80. H.
c." perhaps better known 90 the unini-
tia,cd ~ tho "Orlcr Of Railway Conlluc.
TOMS apparently strongly In favor Of
the measure.
40 much ~, In fact, that Grand Chief
Conductor &. +. Wheaton u now in Wash.
ington, and will possibly remain there for
some months, with tho Intention Of push.
ing the proposed net referred 10 In the in.
forests Of the organization he represents
hasty glance at the bill M now worded
would seem 10 show that II might benefit
railway conductors and the general public
at the same time.
coon iDE,.
But moc careful reading OF the pro
posed congressional measure may cause
| psupln "a uiink tina. while the idea u em
bodies II undoubtedly good one, The
details and wording proposed for adoption
IA necessary 10 carrying Il out are not sun
to escape criticism.
Al least, such seems 10 be the opinion
Among some of the railway conductors.
many ef whom were spoken 10 upon thu
subject by Hcrald reporter.
However. the substance of the bill ap
pcan 10 meet with iayor, and will evident.
| ly find warm support among the members
1 VI lllt Nfutf VI NiliNuN tNUlutipINs
This organization was originally planted
In the west about ton years ago, has NJ
Gently been finding favor among eastern
conductors, and IN now said 10 number
about 1900 members, divided among 22S
divisions. The order extends throughout
| the United States, Canada and Mexico.
In the western States II IL said that
ninety mine out II every 100 conductors
1 l...l Al
proportion Is not nearly 80 large, though
rapidly on the increase.
OPPOSED To STRIKES.
One trustworthy feature Of the organ.
ixaion seems 20 consist In the fact that
thcr IL no strike" CLAUSE In their
constitution, and members u the 20. X.
O." spoken 10 recently upon the subject Of
the proposed license desired 90 have Il
stated that they wcc utterly opposed 10
strikes, and, as nc OF the order expressed
it,
1--WE desire 10 behave m gentlemen, and
be treated rs gentlemen. II any disputes
arisc between us and our employers, lei
them bc settled by arblnliion"
Very sensible remarks, II would seem.
That being about the basis upon which
the 30. H. c." appears TO be willing u
stand or fall. perhaps II would be time io
glance at the measure they will present "a
Congrcs- ~ calculated 10 further thcir aim,
and ambitions.
A previously stated, the bill Il known
M ian act TO provide tor licensing railway
conductors ON certain railways within th,
United States" aud extracted from Il,
wrapping Of long, woriy mysteries, appar
emily necessary Ia all legal documents, Il
Ia In substance M follows
OUTLINE or Tng nitI.
II IA proposed that on and after the ii
day Of July, 1850, no railway compan,
within the United States. which Is en-
gagged In the transportation within IA,
United States land Territories, of counsel
or ~ foreign country. whether sucl
transportation Of passengers or property b,
accomplished wholly or only IN par
over Us own line Of railway, shall employ
or permit any person 10 serve ~ a railway
conductor unless such person " liccnscd
m hereinafter provided In this bill.
u Is further proposed that there shall b,
y chief examiner who shall be appointed
from timo time by the President. by and
with the consent Of the Senate, who shall
be selected with reference 10 his fitness