The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-01-12
Measures Require Exper-
fenced Men, Standard Ca
boose, Boiler Inspection,
Full Switch Crews.
THE FIRST MEASURE
Is MOST IMPORTANT
Four Bills to Be introduced
Have Endorsement and
Support of the Railway
Brotherhoods.
palladium Spceiall

palladium Specially
ures, affecting railway employees will
be introduced in the present session
with the backing of the various broth
erhood organizations. The bills ac-
cording to Fred l.. Feick. legal repre-
sentation of the Brotherhoods are
among the most important ever ask
ed by railroad employees
The four bills provide three years
experience for engineers and conduct
ors, standard caboose. boiler inspec-
ton and full switching crews. OF
these the first is regarded as most I'M
portant. 1t was introduced Wcdnes-
day in the senate by Senator Stot-
senberg of New Albany
In brief. the provisions of this bill
are as follows: Three years service
as fireman or engineer must be had
before an employe may become engin-
eer. Three years service as brake
man or conductor must be had before
and employe may become conductor.
An employe violating the law Is pun
ishable by fine ranging from SIS to
$500, The employer is liable to the
same fine. Under the requirements
for becoming an engineer or conductor
three years experience as engineer or
conductor is allowed This means that
experience in other states will be ac-
cepted
Those Mot Affeeted
The law does not cover engine hos.
tiers, men employed in shifting cars
and making up trains in yards. nor
yard conductors or engineers It is
| drawn to be fair with the employer, as
it provides that in case of emergency,
or If experienced men cannot be OBJ
| tanned, temporary employment may be
given men who do not meet the re-
| quirements of the law. Negligence
from temporary employees. however. is
| held against the employer. The law
does not affect lines less than rs miles
| in length. This last provision keeps 1t
from applying to short roads such as
in large plants and to functions.
| The aim of the brotherhoods is to
obtain uniform legislation in every
state. Such law is now in effect in
Texas and several states and will be
introduced in practically every legis-
lature not already having the measure,
including New York, Ohio. Illinois and
New Jersey. A universal standard OF
qualifications, it is argued, will not
only benefit the employe but will
greatly increase the safety OF the
travelling public.
For Standard Cabooses.
The bill for the standardized cab
oose is regarded as little less import
ant by trainmen Under present con-
ditions many roads still use the small
two-truck "dinky" caboose, type
which has seen service for thirty
years. When first introduced, the
cabooses were large enough. but in
thirty years engines have nearly dou-
bled in size and cars have increased
proportionately. Today train Of
modern type with heavy cars and en-
gine, and at the end will be the tiny
caboose. The result Is that upon sud
den application of air the caboOse
will creak and tremble and nearly
jerk off the track. 1t is in the small
caboose that the majority of slight In
juries occur, such as broken arms.
broken ribs and strained backs.
On heavy grades, when helper en-
gine is pushing. il the first engine
} should put on air with the second en-
gine pushing. the caboose Is likely to
be crushed like an egg shell. Many
times now, trainmen leave the caboose
for fear of meeting instant death.
While train is backing up sudden
application of air is liable to throw the
light caboose from the track
Other objections to the small cab
oose is it's lack of space and toilet fa-
cilities. The car is SO small that it
is hard for the trainmen to find space
) to transact their business. When
there is a stock car in the train, a
drover accompanying the car is enti-
tied to caboose accommodations, but
even one drover sometimes cannot be
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