Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-12-18


the law limiting the service of train
employees on American railroads to
sixteen consecutive hours go to the
very heart of the efficiency and safe
ty of train operation" said Commits
sioner Charles C. McChord, comment
ing upon a statement issued, today,
by the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion analyzing the monthly reports of
interstate railroads on hours of SER
vice during the fiscal year ending,
June 30, 1913.
Nearly 100000 violations Of the To-
hour limit were reported by 269 rail-
roads during the year, the roads sub
hitting various reasons why such vi
olations were necessary. The commits
sion's analysis points out, however,
that while this figure may appear abb
normal to the lay mind, 1t must be re-
membered that 251,111 men were en-
pIoyed in handling trains during the
year and that the excess service prob
ably would not exceed one instance to
each employee.
1.-THE difference in efficiency and
safety of operation between various
railroad systems Mr.. MeChord said,
lis shown clearly by the commissions
analysis in the marked disparity be-
tween the ratio of excess service to
mileage between railroads serving
practically the same territory. For
instance one of the eastern roads, OPP
Grating more than $500 miles of
tracks, reports SPA instances in which
trainmen were on duty for periods
longer than those provided by law;
while another road in the same terri
tory, with a mileage OF less than $500
miles, reports 1858 such instances.
"a comparison of~the figures sub
mitted by two other of the principal
eastern lines shows, respectively,
mileage Of 2,25S, with 5,451 instances
of excess service as compared with
2,s29 miles and 16,44s instances. In
the prairies country, one road with
mileage of 4,755, reports approximately
10000 instances of excess service.
while another road In the same ter
ritory, with more than 1900 miles of
tracks reports only 2,310 instances of
excess service.
I'm the Southwestern territory, one
road, operating less than 6.400 miles of
tracks, reports approximately 1,I0o in
stances of excess service, while an
other line, similarly situated, geo
graphically, reports only $50 instances
on a mileage of more than 1904 miles
A corresponding comparison between
two roads in the Northwestern section
of the country shows mileage of ap-
proximately 5000 miles with less than
500 instances of excess service, While
another road, with less than lo,ooo
miles of line, reports nearly 6,oOo in
stances of excess service.
Commissioner McChord, within
whose supervision comes the actual
administration Of the Hours of Ser
vice Act, directed the preparation OF
the analysis.
The law provides maximum OF
sixteen hours as the limit of contin-
uance service for trainmen engaged
in the physical operation of trains
This law admittedly is being violated
continually by the railroads-many
times unavoidably. The carriers are
required to report each instance in
which an employee served more than
sixteen hours consecuttvely, fine OF
$500 being the penalty for failure to
report.
The ANALYSIS shows that derailments
afforded the most prolific cause of ex-
cess service. SS,3f7 cases being attrib-
uted by the carriers to that generic
cause. In 1880 instances, the de-
lays were due to coupler and draw
bar defects, while 17,753 cases were
attributable to miscellaneous car de-
fects. Landslides, high water and
fire were reported by the carriers in
volved. as responsible for 1885 cases:
and congestion of traffic resulted in
1882 employees exceeding the limit of
service. In 10,620 instances the ex-
cess service was caused by track de-
fects and distractions not resulting in
collisions or derailments; while 1910
cases were due primarily to collisions.
Under the heading of Engine De-
laws" 15.507 instances of excess SER
vice were reported as attributable to
miscellaneous mechanical defects,
while other engine delays usually in
cident to the operation OF trains. were
responsible for nearly 10000 additional
cases.
"As a result of the prosecutions in
stft,ted by the commission" the anal
ysis points out, 1.-The number of in
stances of excess service reported dur
ing the last six months, as compared
with the corresponding figures for
preceding years, has shown marked
reduction"
"My belief u.s." said Commissioner
McChord, that the carriers involved
will concede to the commissions anal
ysis of their reports such degree OF
attention as will enable them, by APP
prising themselves of the preventable
causes of excess service, to eliminate
the majority of instances in which
emploves heretofore have been per-
mitted or required to remain on duty
for longer periods than sixteen con-
secutive hours"
Under the head of Employees in
Train Service" the analysis shows an
aggregate of SIS instances in which
employees returned to duty after six
teen hours continuous service without
having had at least ten consecutive
hours off duty, while 274 of such en-
ployes were returned to duty after
sixteen hours of continuous service
without having had eight consecutive
hours off duty.
The law requires that telegraph OPP