The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-22
''BoiIer Inspection" Pet idea.

''Boiler Inspection" Pet Idea.
Boiler inspection seems to be the pet
subject among the lawmakers this
year, no fewer than seven bills on that
topic having been introduced in the
| two houses. AS all railroa DIS employ
large and expensive engineering stats
which Feep locomotive boilers under
continuous and thorough inspection as
part Of the routine essential to the OPP
Grafton Of the roads, about the only
substantial gain to be effected by the
enactment of one of these bills will be
the creation of several hundred nice
government offices. The president Will
have the appointment of boiler in
spector general and two assistants.
The interstate commerce commission
can appoint the 300 local inspectors
without tie Intervention of the civil
service. Incidentally, the inspectors by
exercising their right to withdraw To-
comotives from service at any time
for tests and inspection would have it
in their power seriously to cripple the
operation of the railroads.
Enjoying equal popularity with the
boiler inspection idea is the attempt to
restore the late lamented pass to its
former vogue. Seven bills have been
introduced to give certain. privileged
classes the right to ride free. These
range all the way from confederate
veterans to publishers.
Senator Penrose has introduced bill
giving certain colleges $50, 900 to use in
determining the hammer blow, CEN
trifugal lift and tangential throw of
counter balances. As various colleges,
railroad companies and mechanical
engineers have already gone into this
subject pretty fully without waiting
for government aid, the value of this
scheme except to the colleges that get
the money, is not apparent.
Still another proposed measure is one
providing for full crews" Four bills
have been introduced on this subject,
and four more limiting the hours that
a railroad man is to be permitted to
labor One of these bills, introduced
by Representative Murphy of Missouri.
imposes a penalty of 5000 for permitting
any employee to work more than eight
hours without taking rest of Is
hours.
Safes for Sleepers.
Other proposed laws require sleeping
cars to be equipped with safes. provide
for the federal incorporation of rail-
reads, the preparation of uniform
freight classification by the interstate
commerce commission. the physical val
uation of the railroads by the com
mission, prohibit the transportation
of the products of convict labor, and
establish a commission to investigate
labor disputes.
One of several bills on the subject of
block signals, empowers the interstate
commerce commission to order any
railroad to install them on one-fourth
of it's lines by July 1, 1912. Another in
troduced by Representative Martin, of
South Dakota, specifies dimensions of
locomotives, cars and distance Of strac-
lures from track.
Another class of bills deals with
freight claims. One by Representative
Rodenberg, Of Illinois, Incorporates the
freight claims clearing house, which
will create several offices with salaries
of $4,000 a year. The incumbents Of
less desirable but more numerous
places are to adjust freight claims by
shippers promptly. Another bill by
Representative Madison of Kansas, is
meant to compel railroads to pay
lust claims within go days. If they
fail to do so the claimant may add his
attorneys fee to his claim. The bill
provides no test by which a Just
claim cen be identified.
Mammoth Car Tax.
A bill by Representative SABBATH of
Illinois, provides for federal compen-
sation for deaths and injuries on rail
roads, all claims to be paid within 30
days Funds are to be raised by levy
ing a tax of SO on each car and loco
motive In 1908, there wers 2302,055
cars and locomotives on the railroads
of the United States, so that this tax