The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1914-10-23

not per car, like drawing single
bucket of water on a windlasS, but
the train of 40 or 60 cars all move
together like the cups on a pump
chain--and GO cups are no more diff
cult to handle than 40--and, except
for the greater motive power de-
manded from the engine, require no
more care or attention from the train
men in charge. The act was passed on
the erroneous assumption that the
number, character, and extent Of the
duties of brakemen increase in pro-
portion to the increased number Of
cars, which is not true because, as
stated before, the entire train, re-
CARELESS of its length, is controlled
from the engine.
A law might just as well be passed
requiring farmers to put an extra
driver on a self-binGer because it re-
quires three horses to pull it instead
Of twO---or on harrow because it now
has go teeth instead Of 40 as former
ly.S Why demand two brakemen on
a train of 80 cars and three on one
of 40 cars?
The state is now being flooded with
sentimental literature appealing to
voters to fastcn this unfair and UNI
necessary burden upon the railroads
Of Missouri, and, as usual, the plea of
humanity" is being put forth with
great ClcverncsS to catch the Sympa-
thy Of the public and always is the
idea held out that this extra brake
man" would prevent all manner Of
wrecks and calamaties If this were
true. the railroads themselves would
be the first ones to put on these extra
men for, struggling as they are to
save every dollar possible, they are
the ones most vitality concerned in
preventing wrecks, injured workmen,
and mishaps of every kind-which are
always costly. Out of PTS trains run
over three divisions Of the NJ. X. d T.
in given time, investigation shows
that there were ll9 accidents on
trains carrying less than 25 cars and
| only ~ accidents on trains carrying
more than % cars. On the Union Pa
CtlC in Kansas in January, 1913, there
were five accidents on trains carry
ing less than 25 cars. During the
same period GA trains were run, all
Of them carrying more than % cars,
without q single accident. So the sta
tstics Of many other roads could be
given showing conclusively that the
Full Crew" propaganda is based
| purely upon sentiment rather than
facts-that the humanity plea is be-
ing put forth to catch the sympathy
Of the people in order that they may
give their approval of this unfair
measure.
State Commission Has Power.
II any earthly excuse remains for
the proposed law. the last vestige of
it disappears from the fact that the
last Legislature created Public Ser
vice Commission which has specific
ally delegated to it the power to reg
ulate the number of men to be en-
ployed on any railroad train in Mis-
souri,. This Commission could make
its requirments of certain companies
whose road and character Of freight
might require more trainmen than
certain other roads which operate un-
der entirely different conditions. In
other words, the Public Service Com
mission is in position to discriminate
between the different conditions which
exist upon the different roads-and
hence. instead Of adopting hard and
fast law for all time to come for ev-
cry railroad in the state, it would
seem but matter of common fair
ness and justice to leave the matter
in the hands of this Tribunal which
the Legislature created for this spe.
ciic purpose.
II this is not the correct view, Their
why was the Public Service Commits.
sion brought into existence? Why moi
let it perform the functions for which
it was created? Why commence tax.
ing its powers away from it before il
has been given an opportunity to ex
ercise them? Certainly if those wht
demand the Full Crew Bill" hav,
faith in the justice of their claim!
they will not be afraid to take theil
chances before an impartial Commits
sion which has full power to gran
forthwith the relief they ask?
There isn't railroad in Missouri
J which doesn't stand ready to put OF
, extra men the moment the Publ