Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-02-20
RAILROAD ACCIDENTS.
An Interesting Theory Of Accountins
for Them

ACCOunttnK
for Them.
1.-The Confessions Of n Railroad Signal
man" which attracted attention in their
, initial appearance in the Atlantic Month
ly, levclop further interest in the Feb
ruary issue. In continued discussion Of
the cause Of accidents, j. O. Pagan, the
"Signaman," brings serious Indictment
against the labor organizations of RAN
way men says the Boston Herald In
his previous article Mr.. Pagan declared
his conclusion, based on experience and
investigation, that great proportion OF
railroad accidents is due to lack Of disci-
| rline requiring strict adherence to rules
of operation. In his second article the
analysis is carried still further, and re-
! sponsbility for lack OF discipline is laid
at the door Of labor orEanizatio tons. For
great many years. says Mr.. Pagan,
1.-THE influence of the railroad labor or
| PLANTATIONS has boon consistently exert
| ed not only TO raise wages and improve
conditions but to nulify discipline, to
destroy personal management and au-
| thority to obliterate from all schedules
and WORKING agreements any reference
to, or consideration OF, the paramount
interest of the public
On the other hand Mr.. Pagan gives
due credit tn the unions for what they
have accomplished for the workingman.
But his Indictment, if it be sustained,
! overbalances al the good that may be
claimed It is Il fearful charge Can it
be sustained 1t docs not matter that,
as Mr. Pagan says, this Interference
with discipline is not wifu or directly
w.. al bat
about by desire to secure justice and
equal rights for. each employe. If the
influence of the labor organization is to
upon industry, upon the workinEman
and upon the public can only be detri-
mental But there is something else to
be said
Elsewhere in this article reference is
made to President Mellen's remark that
increased pay on his road had been ac
companied by decreased efficiency I'm
crease ~ pay md decrease of efficien-
cy." says Mr.. Pagan, are both ndica-
tons of loss ~ grip by the manage
ment.' w. II Boardman, editor of the
Railroad Gazette, makes a similar charge
of union Interference. Mr.. Fagan's dis
cussion is moro interesting and impor-
| lant, n'f'duS'' ne SISdhS ds a uliol iitl'
and brings concrete instances to bear in
support of his argument. He alleges
that infractions Of the rules of the rial
re- y are punished with the least pos
sib.e discomfort to the offender, individ-
ual publicity being avoided. He declares
that the union power is exercised to keep
unfit men in POSITIONS to such an extent
"that if members of an order or brother
,,1J,r do
or do considerable damage to property,
before they arr removed" The seniority
rule. by which every man is entitled to
his turn in promotion, is rigidly enforced
by the union, and under it the railroads
find it Impossible to secure the best men
for the places competition in good ser
vice is thus abolished; the irresponsible
organization is exalted and inevitably
the standard Of service is lowered.
Mr.. Pagan, in declaring all this. turns
fro the labor organizations for mo-
mont to indict the public as code fen
dants in the case, Popular sympathy
often supports the unions, and in indvid-
ual cases petitions for the abrogaton OF
rules and discipline.
May It not he that We, as people
have greater share of responsibility
: than Mr.. Pagan admits. Is it entirely
lust to make the labor organizati tons the
| scaporoat for all this nogljEenceo Admit
, ting all that NJ. Pagan alleges as to in
; torforcnce with discipline, must that be
, the final analysis of the case? A large
proportion Of railroad accidents is due
to Individual carelcssncss. The careless
ness of the mass and the carelcssncss OF
: system are responsible for an added per