The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-12-19
Violations Of Sargiea Law Pile
Up In One Year
REPORT BY COMMISSION
Difference In Efficiency an
Safety of Operating Var
i0us Syetems -
ASSOCIATED Press Dis

lions of the law limit = e service
of train employees o - erican rail
roads to sixteen S cutive hours
go to the very heart of the eff
cheney and safety of train operation"
said Commissioner Charles c. Nc
Chord, commenting upon a statement
issued today by the interstate COM
merce commission analyzing the
monthly reports of Interstate rail-
roads on hours of service during
the fiscal year ended June 80, 1913.
Nearly 100000 violations of the
siXeeen-hour law where reported by
269 railroads during the year, the
roads submitting various reasons
why such violations were necessary.
The commissions analysis points out,
however, that while this figure may
appear abnormal to the lay mind,
it must be rendered that PSI, Ill
trains during the year and that the
excess service probably would not
exceed one instance to each employee.
Efficiency and Safety.
The difference in efficiency and
safety of operation between various
railroad SYSTEM" Mr.. Chord said,
lis shown clearly by the commits
sion's analysis in the marked dis
parity between the ratio of excess
service to mileage between railroads
serving practically the same terri
tory. For instance, one of the eastern
roads, operating more than $500
miles of tracks, reports 5,224 in
stances in which trainmen were on
duty for periods longer than those
provided by law; while another road
in the same territory, with mile
age of less than $500 miles, re
ports 22,663 such instances.
"a comparison Of tho figures sub
mitted by two other Of the principal
eastern lines shows, respectively, a
mileage Of 2,25S, with 5,451 instances
of excess service as compared with
1929 miles and 16,448 instances.
In the prairie country, one road
with a mileage Of 4,755 reports APP
proximately 10000 instances Of ex.
cess service while another road in
the same territory, with more than
$500 miles of tracks, reports only
2,310 instances of excess service.
Instances of Excess Service.
in the southwestern territory,
one road, operating less than 6,40O
miles Of tracks, reports approximate
ly LOO instances of excess service,
while another line, similarly situated,
geographically, reports only $50 in
stances on a mileage of more than
1904 miles. A corresponding COM
parison between two roads in the
Northwestern section of the country
shows mileage of approximately
5000 miles with less than 500 in
stances of excess service, while an
other road, with less than 10000
miles of line, reports nearly 5000
instances of excess service"
Commissioner McChord, within
whose supervision comes the actual
administration of the hours of serv-
ice act, directed the preparation of
the analysis.
The law provides a maximum of
sixteen hours as the limit of con-
tinuance service for trainmen en-.
gagged in the physical operation of
trains. This law admittedly is being
violated continually by the railroads
many times unavoidably. The car
riers are required to report each
instance in which an employee serv-
ed more than sixteen hours consec.
utively, a fine of $500 being the
penalty for failure to report.
The Many DeraiIments.
The analysis shows that derail-
ments afforded the most prolific
cause of excess service, SS,317 cases
being attributed by the carriers to
that generic cause. In 1880 in
stances, the delays were due to
coupler and drawbar defects, while
lI753 cases were attributable to
miscellaneous car defects. Land.
slides, high water and fire were re-
ported by the carriers involved as
responsible for 1885 cases; and con.
gestion of traffic resulted in 1882
employees exceeding the limit of serv.
ice. In 10,620 instances the excess
service was caused by track defects
and distractions not resulting in
collisions or derailments; while 9,91O
cases were due primarily to
collisions.
The Engine Delays.
Undre the heading of Engine De.
lays, 15,507 instances of excess serv.
ice were reported as attributable to
miscellaneous mechanical defects,
while other engine delays usually