The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-04
Under the Dome.


islature next week looking 10 the pro-
lection OF the travelling public by re-
curing railroads to have capable opera
tors at every station. who are not COM
PEELED 10 work so many hours that they
are worn out Speaking about the need
Of such legislation. a bright and capable
young man. who once acted as opera
tor, but quit because Of the long hours
and poor pay, said:
While the attitude OF certain rail-
reads in the State, regarding certain
necessary improvements at certain sta
tions. is being discussed, let me call at
tention to one thing not only 10 the in
teTest of every citizen IN North Carolina,
but TO a class Of men who deserve more
than ordinary consideration l refer to
the operators and agents along the lines
OF these roads. Let me note briefly the
followin facts, to-wit: The operators and
agents are worked longer hours and nave
greater responsibility comparative with
their rate of paw than any IN railroad
service. In fact the office men In the
railroad service are the hardest worked
and receive less consideration than even
brakemen. Conductors, engineers, nag
men and brakemen all receive so much
per hour. after they have been on duty
twelve hours, and yet. the poor agent
sits in his little den from seven IN the
morning until the company sees mt 10 ex-
Cuse him, be- that all night or what not
He is then supposed TO be on duty
promptly next morning at seven O'Clock
sharp. Is this man 1T for duty next day
Is it right and just that he should work
all day and night without one cent or
compensation. while on the other hand,
the crews who hold him on duty re-
Ceiye over time2 Is there no remedy for
this Shall not the dav come when Oper-
ators will receive more consideration at
the hands Of these heaTtless creatures?
They have been 10 their officials time and
again and asked for the same consider
alton that their brother engineer. con-
ductor and fagmen. and even brakemen
are favored with. and they are turned
away. WHY is this Simply because on
the one hand. the engineers and coEduc-
tors have them by the nap Of the neck;
on the other they have the agent and
operators. They know the engineers can
tie them M any time. They are or
gained. they make them come 10 terms
Hence they are the best paid men in the
service. Is a man fl 10 have trains load
cd with human freight in his Chare,
who has been on duty twenty-four hours
in succession, and vet this is the case
There are numbers or wrecks caused by
the over-working OF men, and yet Mr..
Editor. the news is suppressed. These
men have declared strikes and il has been
OF no avail they have begged for help
and their cries have been answered by
a discharge They have done everything
under heaven 10 bring about amicabie
agreement and yet they have been in
suited This condition Of affairs has been
going on since the strike on the South
ern Railroad, about three years ago.
These honest. worthy brave men know
they can never get any consideration at
the hands OF these roads (and especially
the Southern Railroadl, as they now
stand We have faith in the people. We
believe. through the columns OF your
PAPER. the people viii hear our cries
We have faith in our cause We know
we are right. and now what do We see
The good men are leaving the service
and going into other employment. What
does this mean? II means that there is
not 10 be found an extra good relief man
on the Southern Railroad in North Car
men. l have been told that the a. C.
L. have closed one OF their offices, be
ing unable 10 supply it with an opera
tor. The Southern Railroad has been
without an agent at Mt. Airy. y. C..
for months. the road vas forced 10 send
an auditor from Washington City TO
carry on the work. With these good
men leaving the service quietly and with
out any ado (for they know there is
nothing TO gain in strikes. il simply
means railroads viii work anybody, who
can bluff the public. Il simply means
inexperienced boys to have under their
control trains which you and thousands
Of others are TO ride on at the risk Of
life The time was when railroads re-
auired their office men TO stand an eN-
animation. but, alas that has passed,
Men are too scarce to force that rule
They cannot afford IL Little do the
travelling public realize the danger they
are in when on these roads You are
helpless Why cant the strong arm OF
the law come to our rescue2 Why can I
there be a law enacted regulating the
pay OF operators and other office men
after they have worked twelve hours
1t is due them. Why not TO them as
we'll as TO engineers. conductors and
even negro brakemeu. There is rest
less spirit among these men. but they
are not talking The tide is rising. can
the Southern and others stem it, We
shall see