New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-01
FULL CREW BILL A LAW;
my Duty" SAYSSULZER
Railroad Presidents Protest
Fails to Impress Governor,
Because people Want It,"
NOT CLASS LEGISLATION
Human Life More Important
than a Little Additional Elk
pense, He Explains-Mellen
Expresses Regret.
lRr relesranh % The Tim,

iBy Telegraph % The Tribune
Albany. March 3l.-Governor Sulzer to-
day signed the Jackson full crew bill.
which railroad officials declare will re-
suit in an expenditure OF 100000 year
without accomplishing anything except to
create useless jobs. The bill requires
railroad companies TO employ three in
, stead OF two brakemen on freight trains
Of more than twenty-five cars on railroads
more than fifty miles long. II also re-
quires passenger trains TO carry a bag
gageman in addition to the regular crew.
The Governors signing of this bill is re-
garded az crude bid for labor union
support.
~ hearing on Saturday six railroad
presidents appeared before the Governor
and protested against rhc measure.
Twice before the Legislature passed it.
but 1t was vetoed by Governors Hughes
and Dix on the ground that the Public
Service Commission has the power to do
what the bill provides if necessary. The
| railroad presidents declared that there
would be no work for the extra men on
many trains. while on others the railroads
already employ as many as If not more
than the number required by the measure.
In signing the bill the Governor said
he would not "shirk his duty to humanity.
ana that IT was passed by such a large
vote that he was bound 10 assume that
| the people wanted it," He added
1T cannot be called class legislation. as
IL affects substantially all the people. and
has been adopted with good results in other
states, and in my judgment will ere long,
be the law H. more OF the state.
"The only objection to the measure on
the part of the railroads appears 10 be
that it will increase 10 some extent the
cost of operation by reason Of the fact
that q few more men will have To be en-
pioyed on some OF the trains The same
| objection could Ice urged with equal force
to any Improvement IN the method Of
! railroad operation.
My judgment is that the conservation
OF human life and limb is a important 10
inv lf'li' ~ a HAiif dhplti'ilhi fNl'iiT' III
the operation of these common carriers
/ The state tor IT, own welfare has a right
10 demand the employment upon the rail
roads OF every safety appliance. whether
mechanical or human. in the interest OF
life and limb and greater safety stand
ards"
President Charles s. Mclcu ~ the New
York. New Haven & Hartford Railroad
Company made the following statement
yesterday IN Boston with reference TO
the signing by Governor Sulzer OF the
Jackson FUN crew bin.
Mr. Mellcn very much regrets the nd
ditional burden the full crew bill places
upon the railroads of the country. though
It's effect upon the New Haven road. ON
account II lis mileage IN Sew York state
being small. is not so serious as upon
other roads: but the signing ~ the bill Is
undoubtedly gong 10 make that class OF
legislation spread elsewhere.
Governor Sulzcr prior To his election -
said to have told John Fitzgibbon. a
member OF the Brotherhood of RAILROAD
Trainmcn. that III am elected will
sign the fun crew bill and ! will aid YOU
I'm securing its passage. would come
out openly for the bill but If ! did the
railroads would spend barrel Of money
to defeat me"