The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-27

In working cheap labor. which gem
orally guarantees unskiued service
Not until mere infant telegraph
operator who had not even been Elk
anlned as TO tho rules OF blocking and
manipulating trains. and who had been
held continually on duty something
to enter the Same block. resulting IN
the death of President Spencer. of
the Southern Railway did the nation
awake to such criminal conditions as
existed OF the various railroad sys-
tens. Prior TO this accident railroads
throughout tho country We're employ
operators available. requiring them to
block and dispatch trains. thereby
daily hnzarding the lives of thousands.
The recent catastrophe on the New
York, New Haven and Hartford Rail-
road Is just another instance OF tho
negligence. or lack of ability, on tho
longs hours OF service required OF him
TelSgraphers and train dispatches
to none In point OF responsibility and
trust, but the wages paid are so low
mat these positions are filed mainly
BY rattle Drained boys, often too young
10 realize the stern responsibility rest
ing upon them. and when they reach
the aye OF rsIsonlng They seek m9re
do you find SO few middle men in
tho telegraph service? Or why do We
telegraphers minimum scale OF wages
with that of the engineers and con
ductors, and there YOU Will find tho
conditions demand an equalized scale
Of wages for equal skill and intell-
gence. and not until this is effected can
long Will the people encourage tho
railroads In filling their Golfers by
experimenting with amateur telegraph
operators and signamen, at the cost
of tho annual death rate by wrecks?
The only solution is to pay the tclee-
raphcrs. the signalmen, the bridge
men on pro rata basis with the sal
aries paid men In other departments
requiring the same degree of skill and
lntelligc and conductors,
for instance
Recently one OF the railroads enter
ing Richmond has been partially
equipped with new system of signals.
One of the foremen In the signal de-
partment on this road. who has been
boy. having worked his way up from
an apprentice. now having thoroughly
responsibilities thrust upon him. did
not feel that it would be an unreason
able presumption to intimate that "A
supplement OF ten or fifteen dollars per
month to his wages would be accepted
with good cheer. So he did let 20 n
hint OF this kind, but ii was all in vain.
all kinds of excuses for refusing this
slight increase. Imagine the pres-
dent Of this company reclining in his
Whit Of a mild Havana. engaged in
transcribng such gilded phases IF
poverty rs would seem most palatable
to his victim out on tho line working
on signals, believing that anybody can
do his class of work. This assumption
on his part, however, is n mistake
This master signalman will. of course
leave the service, and an apprentices
again armed with this Responsibilities
few months hence, picking up n
paper. we may expect to see at first
glance an account OF big Wreck
Cause Unknown" Then comes Tho
host of experts to testify that the un
fortunate wreck was absolutely un-
avoidable. The sequel Is, they had
rather risk the lives OF people than
to pay this master signalman fair
wage OF 500 per month, when they can
get an unslsillcd man for less Talk
about the Interstate Commerce Com.
mission In this connection, that honor
able body Is speedily gaining the repu
tation as belonging to that class who
having Dyes. sec not. and having ears
hear not that which most obviously
concerns tho trouble they are supposed
to alleviate. ''TABSCOTT"