Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-07-14
IMPORTANT BILL HELD UP
Measure to Limit Time Of Work
on Railroads Goes Over.
SENATORS OPPOSED The BILL
Claimed That it Would Work a
Hardship on the Railroad Men
What Carter Says.

Washington, d. c., July 1i.-A
vigorous effort was made during the
recent session of congress to secure
the enactment of the bill to promote
the safety of employees and travellers
on railroads by limiting the service of
railroad men. The measure has the
backing of the labor organizations and
of all the men whom those o~rganiza.
tions could influence.
The principal proposition of the bill
that railroad EMPLOYERS be limited to
l6 hours of labor IN each day of "a
hours encountered a serious snag in
lieved men ought to work longer than
l6 hours, but for various other reas-
ons that were advanced. The meas
ure was regarded as too drastic, and
the opinion was expressed that it was
proposed at a time too late IN the
session to admit Of proper considera-
ton and amendment before adjourn
ment. 1t, therefore, went over until
the short session next December
The chances are that some measure.
approximating in its provisions that
which now is pending. will be enacted
at the mex session, but it is certain
to meet with pretty serious opposi-
tion. C%uriously enough, the opposi-
ton is not to come entirely from
members of congress, but from many
OF the railroad employees themselves.
and it win be based upon entirely
natural reasons. 1t frequently hap
pens that railroad emuloyees find it
really desirable, for personal reasons.
to work is or more hours consecutive
ly; and it could be shown that it
would be a hardship on them to COM
pei them by Law to ceases their lapors
after having been on duty le hours.
This position is stated strongly by
Senator Garter, of Montana. who was
one OF the senators who opposed the
enactment Of the measure in the
closing hours of congress.
Throughout the great west, = said
he. "it happens that the railway en-
ployes desiring to have their families
located at points where the children
can go t school. extend divisions
from centers of population to Joints
in the timber or Oh the prairie out
along the line of the railroad. Is it
rot natural that the railroad employee
should desire to make his stop at tie
end of his division.in the.timber or on
the prairie az short as possible. to the
end that he might have more time
with his family at the place where
he resides2 The pending bill simply
would require the employee to divide
mis- spare time between his family
and the tall grass at the terminus OF
his division.
Il am for the man who desires TO
spend time with his family. Ii by
making a run to say IL hours and
then with q rest Of four or Ave hours
he can get back to his family and rest
there for "a hours. ] am in favor of
enabling him to do that. That is
what we do in the west.
Other members of congress. many Of
the men who have worked 10 and l6
heurs a day for years, also take the
position that no man ought 20 have
the hours of his labor unreasonable
curtailed 1t is lktl'- therefore.
that the provisions o. the proposed
legislation will be modified materially
b fore the measure finally is crystal
lied into law.