The Washington herald., 1907-01-10
RAILROAD HOUR BILL
Senate to Vote To-day on the
Contested Measure.
FIERCE OPPOSITION SHOWN
senator la Toilette Has Read a Let
ter from brotherhood Official
Criticising Amendments by Differ
ent SenntOrs-Debate TO Continue
Until 3 o'clock This Afternoon.

/ A veritable storm Of protest broke over
/ the La Toilette railroad hour bill in the
Senate yesterday afternoon. From all in
dications a determined effort will be made
/ to afecommit it or amend it out of all
semblance Of its present form. Senators
+ Warren, Bacon, Patterson. and Gallinger
/ were among those who declared that the
principle was right. but contended that
/ tho measure was so loosely drawn that il
would work injury to the railroads and
i hardship TO employees. without promoting
/ tEe safety OF travellers.
/ A1r La Toilette. who last session forced
/ a unanimous consent for the taking of a
vote on the bill to-day. expressed surprise
at what he considered a change Of senti-
ment. He said that at last session the
claim was that there was no necessity for
such legislation; while Senators now de-
cIarsd there was a universal demand for
it. but objected TO the form Of the Iegis-
I lation 10 be enacted.
He read the reports made 10 the Inter
state Commerce Commission by railroad
companies. showing the causes Of wrecks
and the hours of continuous service by
the employees involved. He showed from
these reports that in some Instances
wrecks had been due to the fact that en-
ployes had fallen asleep on duty. and
that in some instances they had been
continuously at work for as long as
forty-eight hours without sleep immedi-
ately preceding the accident
What is the namSof the railroad com
pany that will keep %n employe at work
for forty-eight hours without sIeep2' in
quired Senator Beveridge.
Senator La Toilette replied that under
the law the names OF the companies re-
porting these facts were kept confden-
tiai, but that he was prepared 10 im-
part the Information % the Indiana Sen
ator privately if he desired 70 know. Mr.
Beveridge insisted that a railroad com
pany that would practice such 'iuhuman
treatment Of employees ought 10 be ex-
posed"
Employees Forced to Object.
Referring 10 the numerous protests from
railroad trainmen against the bin sub
mitted in the Senate yesterday by Sena-
tor Warren, Senator la Toilette said that
these could be explained By the fact that
west Of the Mississippi River most Of the
trainmen worked on "a mileage basis. and
that the effect Of the passage Of the bill
would be TO limit their earning capacity.
He insisted also that the railway Senators
were coercing their employees into passing
resolutions condemning the bill He read
"a letter from an empIoye Of q Southern
road stating that "A division slparintaud-
ent had prepared resolutions protesting
against the passage Of the la FolLtte bill.
and submitted them TO the brotherhoods
with the request that they be passed and
forwarded TO Congress.
At one point in Mr. Ia Follctto's specch
he had only small audience. most of the
Senators having left the chamber for
lunch Shortly afterward a colIoquy arose
and Senator DolIiyer was speaking sud
denly he turned TO the Wisconsin Senator
with The remark. I trust am not tres
passing on the time Of the Senator from
Wisconsin"
Not at an replied AIr la Toilette
with a smile; "I note that the sound Of
another voice in this chamber adds ma
terially TO the attendance The Senators
who had meanwhile returned from their
luncheon Joined in the general laughter
provoked by Mr.. la FolIette's remark.
Senator Patterson condemned the bill.
and Senator Bacon declared that il was
more far-reachiug legislation than tie
railroad rate Jaw, the safety appliance
law, or the employers liability law"
The Georgia Senator declared that its
effect would be to give the Federal gov
eminent control over the working hours
OF railway employees on every railroad
i'm the United States. whether il was an
interstate road or wholly within rhc
State lines He declared that all H'iSa-
tion would be transferred TO the federal
courts by the act
Unusual Argument
In conclusion, Mr.. la Toilette read a
letter from II. r. Fuller. legislative rep
resentative of the railroad brotherhood.
in which he analyzed each of the neuJ-
ing amendments. rejecting most of ,hem
ana approving q few. The reading Of
this letter created considerable surprise
in the Senate chamber. il being regarded
by many Senators as an unusual thing
To thus exploit in debate the personal
views Of a private individual analyz,ng
minUtely pending measures.