Morning journal and courier., 1890-07-21
aAILROAp FIn EM nr.

Five hundred nlem Bsrs sr Che BKsth.
 erhoed in Convention as Hsrifcrd-
 Welcomed co ths Glty by Mayor
 Dwight.
 HARTFORD, GenBl, July s0r-lrivs huns dfed members of the Brotherhood of hsils read Bremen assembled ia aaiea meeting at Allyn hall this morning to discuss mats teFs relating to their business. The sessien was held. with closed doors. h the alters noon there was an open meeting with aing- tug and addresses. The delegates marched in body to Central hall, where dinner WAS served. Central hail was gaily decorated with flags, the stars and stripes of the United States mingling with the new stars and stripes of the republic of Brazil. Around the gallery were suspended railroad signal flags, blue, green and white. Rspresenta- tives of the order were present from Dela- ware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode leland and Connecticut. First Vice Grand Master P. H. Morrissey of Galesburg. H., presided. Most of the delegates arrived on special getting here in the morning before the business meeting began. Grand Sec retary L. P. Bristol of Bridgeport. after the morning session, told the newspaper representatives that the time was taken up with the discussion of the matter relating to the bueiness of the men. A set of resolutions was adopted favoring the pas. sage of the bill pending in congress rsquir-- ing railroads to use automatic brakes and coupIers on freight trains. The resolutions also pledged the members of the Brother hood to do all in their power to prevent trainmen working on Sunday. Grand Trus- tee J. O'Rourke of Boston attended the meeting. James Daley of Hartford presided at the afternoon public meeting. The Rev. Gods blessing upon the gathering. quar- tette sang several times during the meeting. Mayor Dwight made brief address. He said his part in the exercises of the day WAS small one "I came," he said, "only to look into your faces, shake your hands and bid you welcome to Hartford. And may God bless you wherever you go."
 Vice Grand Morrisey was next introduced by the chairman. Few people, he said, know the trials, hardships and perils of the life of railroad employe. The life is full of danger, and this danger is faced cheerfully l by men in the morning of life in the honor l able struggle to earn their daily bread. No other industry has added so much to the growing and prosperity of communities. | With the birth and development of railroads came the demand for @ class of workmen requiring manliness. sobriety, skill and cour- | age The work requires @ high degree of mor- | al courage. The Brotherhood Is not yet seven years old. It was formed in Oneonta, N. F., in 1ss8 It has gone on increasing in numbers, usefulness and power In that time $800,OOO has been paid for death and disability claims, thus relieving much want and sui. fering There are 158, 900 miles of railroad in the country, and on nearly all this the old-fashioned hand-coupling and brake ii still used. Two thousand men lose theil
 lives every year on account of this wretohed
 economy. Three-quarters of this slaughter
 might be stopped by the use of automati!
 brakes and couplers. They are not attached
 because blood is cheaper than iron.
 Hon. L. s. Coffin of Fort Dodge, Ia, also
 addressed the meeting. He gave statistic
 of thesnumber of railroad men killed ana
 injured every year and claimed that ath'
 companies do not do all their duty in pro
 tecting the lives of their employees.
 Letters of regret were read from Hon
 Henry 0. Robinson of this city, William H
 Stevenson, vice.president and general man.
 ager of the Housatonic railroad; Lucius Tut
 tie, superintendent of the Consolidated sys
 tenn; O. M. Shepard. superintendent of tn
 New York division of the Consolidated road
 and L. B. Nicksrson, freight agent at Bridge | port.