Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1912-01-23
UTILITY BOARD
ON FULL CREW
Makes Report Disappearing
Senate Bill of Last Year
Covering the Matter.
MEASURE TOO DRASTIC
Claims 1t Has Power to Or
der Larger Crews But
Much Delay Results.
fFron. the NEWS correspoadent.y

S~{ 'SSNiNSs
fFrom the NEWS Correspondemt.J
Trenton, Jan Disappearing
of Senate Bill, No. SO, Of last year,
the full crew" measure, as defec-
tive and erroneous in principle but
holding that some legislation is
needed to regulate the matter of the
size of crews on railroad trains. the
State Board of Public Utility Com
missioners submitted to the Senate
today its report of the investigation
conducted by it inc the subject OF
full crews, as directed by the Senate
of 1911. The report holds that last
years bill, which was introduced by
Sena or Harry D. Leavitt, of Mercer
county is too rigid, mechanical and
drastic and not framed so as to In
sue the most economical attainment
of the end in view
While Hsapproving the Leavitt
measure, the Commission does not
assent to the contentious of the rail-
road companies that adequate crews
are always provided on every train.
The Board declares that Its inspec-
tors have discovered instances in the
case OF certain railroads where econ
omy has been pushed beyond the
limit consistent with safe service to
the public, and 1t asserts that while
this bill does not meet the conditions
properly, there are certain instances
real impressing. where train crews
ought to be increased.
Utility Board Has Fnll Power
The Commission takes the view
that under the Public Utility law ii
has full power to order an increase
| in the size of a train crew where
such increase is necessary for the
carrier to- furnish safe, proper and
adequate service; but Is shows that
Iobstructionist tactics through Court
! appeals may be resorted to by tho
railroad companies when regulation
| is ATTEMPTED by administrative orr
ders. On this account the Board
reports to the Senate that while It
believes that preferable policy is.
| to allow the Commission, under it's
present powers to order an increase
| of train crew. when found neces~
sary to afford safe and adequate
service, more expeditions p.pceed-
| ing may have to be provided by
lstatute for orders Of this charaes A
/ II experience dem crEtr 1tES Il q. - III;
11Issss ratiye rasuaasicp ii tnls nasa
sssa ls m q 5sf S2s s e
Fsh ( y and isiSsIs II lss n
Ifo operate tiny PASSENGER, M&fI III
express train Of not less than f3ra
cars unless the train had crew
composed OF an engineer, fireman,
conductor, baggage master. one
brakeman and one f,asman There
WIS a proviso that on train where
no baggage was handled no baggage
master need be employed. This pro-
vision added one man to such crews
s-ss- Fc~ e-es~ht trains
shows that the crew should be COM
al ensiilae 4renan, cons
ductor, one flagman and two brake
men. The penalty was made a fine
of from 500 TO $500 for each yio-i
lation. While the hin did not specify.
the number of freight cars in a train
that might be operated without the
extra hand. 1t was practically agreed
that the limit should be set at thirty
cars.
Long Fight TO Get Bill
The introduction of this bill fol-
lowed a fight which has extended
| law on the statute books. Each
session similar measure was intro
duced and was earnestly supported
by the railroad train men led by
their various Brotherhoods. Each
| bill was Just as strenuously opposed
T by the railroad companies, and for
| two or three year, mo rrhlic hear
| ings on this question were among
\ = b 4 Jf1ynl Arf r~ffs A,s.
companies have always successfully
blocked the passage of the law. The
| agitation of the question last winter
| led the Senate on April IL to adopt
the resolution directing the Utility
Board fully to investigate the sub
| iects covered by Bill No. SO, and To-
report to the Senate In 1912.
Pursuant to the resolution the
Utility Commission held two public
Hearings, one in the State House..
| November |. 1911, and the second
! in Newark, November Is, 1911. The
hearings were public and all inter-
ested parties, including the railroad.
train men and the representatives
| of the companies were permitted to.
present their views. The finding of
the Commission as reported today, is
based upon these hearings,
Crews Should BE Adequate.
The Commission saws there can. OF
course, be no denial OF the proposl-
tion that the crews which operate'
railroad trains should be adequate 10
. ford safe and prope~ service Il
thinks the Leayitt bill is too rigid
anu drastic because it makes the.
number of cars carried on atraiis
the exclusive determinanf OF ~ aize
| of the crew and the commission de-
clared that it is incontestabie tnat'
There are other considerations which
ought to be weighed in de ermining
| the size train crews SoRle of these
considerations referred to are the
number of stops, the seasonal nlEer
ations of operating conditions. the
Continued on page Al
Azsaxn