New-York tribune., 1908-01-29
RAILROAD DISCIPLINE.
Larness Due to Union Influence
Says Former .Signdlman.

j. o. Pagan, practical railway man, writing
under the title Of Confessions of Railroad
Signalman" in "The Atlantic Monthly for Jan
uary, declared that least S5 per cent of rail-
way accidents were due not to lack of rules
safety appliances. but to the neglect of railway
employees to regard them. In concluding
ticle. under the same title. in the current num-
ber of the magazine, he argues that such a state
of affairs could not continue If proper discipline
were maintained and he holds that the prev
alent laxness of discipline is in large part due
to the powerful influence exerted by the labor
unions the arrangements of the various rail-
roads in the United States. He says in part:
The debt we railroad to organiza-
tions admits question. The beneficial results are
before in almost every department of the rail-
road business. They have established a fraternal
feeling among us. On all sides they have aroused
a spirit of mutual hepfulness- They have also sue
ceeded in advancing wages and in this way con-
tributed to the comfort and prosperity of almost
every in the service. Furthermore, they have
been particularly active in melting legislation for
the protection OF life and limb among workers.
These facts must not be forgotten minimized.
for they worthy of all commendaton. But in
this matter of the personal conduct and efficiency
of railroad in relation to these terrible railroad
accidents have, first OF all, to consider the para
mount interests of society and while humanity has
quarrel with the unions while they attend to
their legitimate business. ii certainly be said
to have a grievance against them that calls for
prompt attention and remedy.
This grievance consists in the fact that for
great many years the influence of the railroad labor
organizations has been consistently exerted not
only to raise wages and to improve conditions,
which, of course is perfectly proper and justiable
but also nullify discipline. destroy personal
management and authority and to obterate from
all schedules and working agreements any refer
consideration for the paramount inter
ests of the travelling public
Yet let imagine that this interference with
Or 1fr,iir &c
brought about by design directly Intentional
On the contrary, in a very natural way 1t has
grown out of a system whose main object has been
to justice and equal rights for every indi-
viduaI empIoye. But unfortunately, in pursuing
these personal ends and objects. the rights of the
community have been forgotten.
MANAGEMENT HELPLESS
OF course I cannot expect railroad managers to
agree at all points with my estimate OF their pow
ers and functions of the helpless situation in
which they find themselves. Just at present
however, / not interested in opinions from any
quarter The facts that interest me. and I think
the public well. relate to what these railroad
managers have done at the present day with such
powers they possess in the interest Of safe and
efficient railroad service 1t be very interest
ing to be informed that superintendent has the
power promptly TO discharge an engineman for
running a danger signal and placing the lives of
five hundred passengers in utmost peril but it is
much to the point to impress upon the public
mind that the action of the official will not amount
a snap of his finger if an organization puts down
its foot and signifies opinion the contrary.
Illustrations OF these facts not far so seek
Only short time ago engineman promptly
discharged for dsregarding signal in most mex
cusable manner. The passed up higher
for the approval of the general manager Mean
while the man had discovered some kind Of an ex-
cuse for his action. and committee was appointed
to look into the matter. There being total diff
ference of opinion between the management and
he head Of
organizations were summoned from Western
city TO help straighten out the deadlock After a
while the man put back on his engine and the
report passed round that the had been settled
in this way in the interests of harmony. No won
der the superintendent who was concerned in the
matter threw up his hands in disgust and ex-
claimed, Whats the use%'
OF course a superintendent should thoroughly II
vestigate every its merits. but the verdict
of the management should be final The wisdom
of this policy might be questioned if superintend-
ents political appOintees or owed their posi-
tions to graft or pull" AS matter of fact
these men among the hardest worked, most
thoroughly capable and conscientious men in the
United States. No combination of opinion from the
public the railroad commissioners and the labor
organizations is half as likely be Just and i'm
martial as the individual judgment of the superin-
tendent on the spot. The following significant
mark by one of those gentlemen may well be
taken to heart by the public well as by employees.
with free hand could put a stop this kill
ing in week
The story Of railroad management is before
u.s. and the record of accidents all over the United
States is the price that is being paid for it As l
have described situation the circle of and
effect is complete Beginning with the neg1-
gence of employees. which must be considered as the
primary cause of these accidents. l next took up
the matter of discipline. whose function IL is 10
control and put a step TO this negligence The
system was found TO be altogether inadequate and
useless. Finally L attempted to demonstrate that
the labor organizations responsible for the
nature of this discipline. and thus indirectly for
the accidents that have resulted from its inefti-
cheney. Systems of discipline vary on different
roads, nevertheless these contentious are sound
and universally applicable for the blight of inter
ference with the management has in greater
less degree withered every system of railroad dis
cipne in the United States and exposed the trav-
elling public the of service that is ineffi