Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-10-01
Beveen the Georgia Railroad and O. r. c. and B. r. T.

freight train destined to Atlanta. and al
! CovnGton "a station 1870 miles distant
/ from Augusta he learned direct from the
/ engineer Of his train the exact time that
I his che engineers ls-hour period on
| duty under the law would expire. The
/ train proceeded to Conyers q station 14e
miles distant from Augusta, where it re-
NAMED for some time awaiting the ar
/ rival Of an opposing eastbound train. on
arrival Of this eastbound train at Con-
! yers, the westbound train, in charge OF
/ Mr. Paschal. departed for the next sta
ton. Lithonia, without sufficient time TO
make the run TO that station a the speed
limit prescribed by the Rules and clear
the main line before the expiration of the
16-hour period Of duty Of the engineer.
Mr. Paschal admits these facts and has
not given satisfactory explans ton Of his
failure 10 observe the law and my spe-
cial instructions relating thereto He also
knows that under Rule 1872 he is held re-
sponsible for the safe and proper conduct
OF the train, and that all men employed
on the train are required to yield a will
ing obedience to his proper orders
The Georgia Railroad has equipped its
line with a telephone system and each
conductor, including Mr. Paschal was pro-
vided with telephone set, that they may
be able to promptly and conveniently get
in communication with the Dispa tchers,
thus the bulletin instruction to report to
Dispatcher" could have been easily car
ried out. and his failure TO do so is with
out excuse or reason. He seems TO have
preferred to deliberately and premeditat-
eddy take matters in his own hands, de-
tying our instructions and the law, thus
putting the Georgia Railroad in the atti-
tude Of a law breaker and subjecting it to
severe penalties under the law
The Georgia Railroad is being asked to
reinstate Mr.. Pasohal and allow e1im lost
time, and this request is accompanied by
a threat that unless 1t is compiled with
there will be trouble for the Georgia
Railroad and myself the statement being
made that the men will withhold their
support and cooperation, and that with
out those l could not succeed. In short
| you are UNFOLDING Paschal in his disre-
gard Of my instructions and the law, both
OF which were designed for his safety and
the safety OF his fellow employees, the
| passengers who entrust themselves to our
care and for the protection of valuable
property, and in further effort to accom-
| pllsh your ends you make a threat that
our conductors will give us trouble" and
| will withhold support and CO. operation
thus not only gripping the Georgia Rail-
road but our patrons es well, in that they
would not receive the service so essential
| to their comfort and success. | repeat
with emphasis what l said, in effect at
the conference, viz: that the conductors
employed on the Georgia Railroad are for
law and authority. and that / can not and
do not believe that they would be parties
to such indefensibe and unworthy prac-
tees, and that they would not disre
! tained in the Rules, viz: "'ro enter or re-
main in the service Is an assurance of
Willingness TO obey the rules"
You also urge in justification Of Mr..
| Paschal's act that others have committed
similar offenses since the issuance of the
bulletin quoted in this letter and they
had not been suspended or dismissed A
| breach OF the laws OF morals or Of dis
cipline is not modified in degree by its
detection or non detection. An offense OF
that sort is sull an offense il II never
becomes known to any one but the Of
| fender
| The weakening Of discipline invaria bly,
!carries with 1t demoraliza ton reckless
ness and other kindred horrors As the
responsible head Of the Transported ton
Department ! shall continue to admins
Ter such discipline as in my Judgment
works no injustice to the offender and
AFFORDS the protection to our employees
and patrons that they expect me to pro.
vide. Yours truly,
lSigned) W. s. BRAND.
Superintendent