The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-04-03
GOUerw0r Br0@,Ard'S NessAge
TO the F20r1dn LEGISLATURE

ger tranlc, ! also deem II proper &c
repeat my Recommendation to the
Legislature of 1905 in regard to en-
towering the Railroad Commission &c
make suitable provisions for the in
spection of the physical condition Of
rhe railroads in the State. also
would recommend that The railroad
companies doing business in this State
be required to make report to the
Railroad Commission every six months
OF the number OF engines and cars OF
the several classes and kinds. and
their condition and location. and the
amount of their terminal trackage and
transfer facilities. The power OF the
Railroad Commission as to the en-
forcement Of the rules and orders in
regard to the payment OF demurrage
for delayed freight or supply Of freight
cars upon such conditions as it may
prescribe, should be ample and effec-
tive. and in the recovery OF fines and
penalties imposed by the Railroad
Commission, a law similar TO the
present Stock Claim Law" should
be passed allowing the recovery of
twice the amount of such fine or pen
atty, together with attorney fees,
where il is necessary to bring a suit
to recover the same. The convent
ence of the travelling public requires
a closer observance Of schedules. or
at least more reliable INFORMATION TO
the public as 70 the whereabouts OF
trains and the time of their arrival
at the various stations along the
route I would recommend that
statute be passed prohibiting the rail-
roads operating in this State from
keeping any employe in continuous
service for more than sixteen consec-
utive hours, and that no such en-
pioye, after sixteen consecutive hours
of service, shall be permitted TO again
go on duty without having had at
least ten hours of duty; except in
cases OF emergency, such az accidents
or wrecks. or delayed schedules. And
thai the average number of hours daily
service for station agents and opera
tors should be limited to not more
than ten hours per day. 1 would
recommend that no person less than
IS years of age be permitted 20 per
fcrm the duries or train dispatcher
or railroad telegraph operator upon
whose messages trains are dispatched
or handled. The records Of the Rail-
road Commission show that for the IL
months ending June 30, 1906, there
were killed by railroad accidents in
this state nifty employees and nine pas
sensers, and four hundred and thirty
seven employees and passengers in
jured- II is, therefore, your duty TO
throw every safeguard and protection
to the public around the lives Of those
employed in the railroad traffic OF this
State. as well as the travelling public,
and no reasonable precnution should
be neglected which Will afford this
protection. You should pass such
statutes as Will make IL mandatory
upon the nearest Justice Of the peace,
acting as coroner, TO proceed imme
dlately to where any person has been
killed in any accident or train wreck,
and to hold an inquest and ascertain
the cause Of such accident, and who
is to blame therefor. l would recon-
mend that the express companies,
ShC NSASeA0PAA O-AN NCACpAAOAC AAlACS VA
the State be placed under the jurisdic-
ton OF the Railroad Commission l
would recommend a law regulating
the issue OF stocks and bonds by cor
poCatiols, modelled upon that Of those
States where II is in successful oper-
alton. l would not be understood as
recommending the lessening OF wages
paid to any employe, but would rec
onmend that the railroads be prohib
tied from paying less than the aver
age wage paid to laborers and EN-
ployes Of other corporations or indi-
viduals for the same class OF labor or
employment
Education.
In regard to this important subject
can say but little more than wa
suggested in my message to the Les
:slature OF 1905. Too much cons!G
Grafton cannot be given 10 the subje
II our public schools and their need
and while we should not neglect L
demands Of higher education in t.
State. we should primarily consids
the needs and demands or the commo
schools, for it is here that the vas
majority Of our future citizenship mus:
look TO receive their equipment for
the duties or life. and nothing should
be left undone to meet this demand
Especially should the demand for
earnest, qualified teachers, imbued
with high ideals and devotion to their
calling-Second 10 noCe-receive your
consideration ard every reasonable
means employed 10 raise the profess
sional standard and the pay of teach
ers, especially in the rural schools
would suggest for your consideration
State aid for the salary OF teachers OF
certain standing and proficiency in
rural schools. The success or the
consolidation Of country schools int
rural graded schools, where it has
been attempted, is very marked, and
should be adopted wherever the means
OF transportation make It practicable
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