The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-07-25
FIGHT FULL CREW.


CONTINUED from Page Onel
next session Of the legislature: but
the one most desired by the. men em-
p1oyed by the railroads Of this state
il the full crew bill.
am of the opinion that the full
crew bill as presented to the last leg
should we modify It to place an addt-
tional brakeman on freight trains con-
sisting OF more than so cars, could We
have your support?
The train men Of the state come
directly in contact with many of her
citizens. and are in position there
fore to do much good to the office
seeker: and we take the liberty at
this time to ascertain If our meas
at your hands at the next session of
the legislature. Trusting that may
receive m early reply. ana hoping
that you Will make an effort to pass
effective laws for the good OF man
kind at the next session, am
Yours truly.
r. u. SNIDER,
Representative b. Of r. T.
Mr.. KOuns' Letter.
Gentlemen: Mr.. r. U. Snider, of
sentative Of the Brotherhood OF Rail-
road Trainmen. has addressed q letter
to state senators and candidates for the
house of representatives. urging their
support OF the eO-called full crew Dill,
and other anti-railroad measures, In
lature. The following significant para
graph II made part Of the request:
Tho trainmen Of the state come d.
rectly in contact 18th many Of her citi-
zens. and are in position, therefore. to
do much good to the Office seeker; and
certain II our measures will receive tho
support due them at your hands"
The measures other than the full
crew bill are not mentioned, but MT.
Snidef would pledge candidates to
their support, just the Same. The full
ere wbill. he says. IL the one most de-
sired by railroad men. and N that IN
the only measure mentioned In his
letter, that Is the ono to which your
attention II drawn in this communica-
ton.
The railroads OF Kansas, which paid
$S,672,266 in taxes in 1919, called for
an expenditure OF approximately two
| million dollars per annum by the Kan
| sas railroads for extra brakemen on
all freight trains. without any COM
pensatiIg benent to anybody. except
the men who wanted Jobs as brake
| men, Now it is proposed to have an
| extra brakeman only on trains OF
thirty cars and over.
A Deceptive Term.
| u
tends to deceive those who are not
familiar with railroad phraseology.
1t gives the impression that the rail-
roads are operating with short crews,
which is not SO. The conductor, two
brakemen. the engineer and fireman
constitute a full crew on trains where
five men are sufficient for the duties
devolving upon them. On many trains
three brakemen already are en-
ployed. whom three are needed to dc
trains, stopping at stations to load
and unload shipments and to place
cars for loading and unloading. Most
| OF these local trains. on which three
brakemen arc employed, haul lesl
than thirty cars. while Mr.. Snider'z
campaign 10 to induce the Legislature
to force the railroad to employ three
brakement on tho through freight
trains which have practically nothing
for two brakemen to do from one ter
minal to another.
In his letter Mr.. snider gave nc
excuse for his bill. but in tho last SEES
sion Of the legislature it was claimed
| that an extra brakeman should ride
| on every freight train a. . safety fea-
ture. The argument failed in the face
of the following facts: That every
| freight train and every car carries al
known safety devices: that every train
is controlled by air. which. in emer-
gency, may be applied from any place
on the train; and that as safety
measure, a third brakeman would be
OF no more .lue on q freight train
than would be an extra man on q corr
planter. or a load Of hay, as a mean,
OF safety.
The demand Of Mr.. Snider and his as
| sociates Is for a heavy and useless finan
cial burden to be imposed upon the Kan
sas railroads, adding to the constantly
increasing cost OF railway operation Will
no provision for meeting the extra ex
pense. The owners Of railway property
believing this movement to be unjust and
unfair respectfully request that you with
hold your verdict on the full crew bill
| until you have an opportunity to give tn,
subject thorough investigation.
Yours truly.
c. w. KOUNS, Chairman.
The railroad committee is officiall,
known as the Kansas Committee on Re
lation Of Railways to Legislation. It Il
| composed OF the Santa Fee, Rock Island
l Union Pacific. Frisco. Missouri Pacific
Burlington, Kansas City Southern, NJ X
and T.. st. Joseph & Grand Island
Orient, and Midland Valley railways
Mr.. Kouns. the chairman, and A. Il
Sweet, general manager Of the Roci
Island. are the Topeka members.
Weelk1y Bank Statement.
Il New York, July 6.-The statement O
the actual condition Of clearing hous
banks and trust companies for the weel
I No. H<pa TIA q