The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1915-01-05

Special TO Daily Leader
III Reno. Okla, Jan. st.
Beacon, chairman of committ'
representing the railroads of Il
state, has addressed a letter to Il
people OF Oklahoma, on legislatio
proposed in the present legislator
such as "full crew" car limit an
hospital bills. =" Mr.. Beacon says:
nThis committee composed Of OF
ficers representing the dsferen
railroads Of Oklahoma had hoped tha
during the coming Legislature tina
neither their time, nor that of tn
members of the legislature, would b
sccIpied In discussing and consider
ing sins further burdening the rail
roads.
we note, however, from a recen
publication Of one of our daily news
Z papers, that some of these measure
are to be submitted again. The con
ceptions of those not engaged in tn
railroad service ars undoubtedly in
fiuenced by such personal inter
course as they may have with tn
railroads through what they hea
others saya, and through what the,
read. We are, therefore, submittin
this pamphlet bell wing that through
clearer conception Of the prob
lems confronting the railroads, tn
people OF Oklahoma will conside
the condition of the railroads today
and see that justice IS accorded
"The railroads have their agricul
toral representatives in the field
and have shown by operating demon
stration trains, and in other ways
that it is their ambition to co-operat
and assist in uniting all interests il
the upbuilding OF Oklahoma, whicl
we believe to be one of the mos
resourceful states in the Union. Wha
is needed, as we view it, is close
co operation, greater confidence, an
more capital to develop
saThe past few years have seen
number Of the railroads pass into tn
hands Of receivers and others walio'
in the slough of despondency, unit
today, their securities discredited
they find little or no favor with in
yestors.
Therefore, expense brought abou
by arbitrary legislation must be me
by retrenihments and enforced eco
Monies elsewhere, which is not onl
detrimental to the employees OF the
railroads the railroads, the genera
public, but to the thousands OF en-
plcyes and those dependent upon
them. who are engaged in the fac
tories producing supplies and ma
terial for which the railroads furnis
the market.
"There is no way to mest this ex-'l
pense. except increase the price o
the only thing the railroads have Z
sell--transportation.
among the measures, we are ad
vised, which viii be introduced at tn
coming session Of the legislature ar
what are known as the Full Crew
Car Limit and Hospital Bills
.'The termk fun crew" is mis-
nomer in that it would lead the publ
to believe that the railroads are no
maintaining sufficient force to prop
erly and safely man their trains
The railroads now have and Away
have had, full crews on their trains |
/ g sufficient number of men a
all times to properly protect ans
safely operate them. The though
u9permost in the minds Of Officers is
the safety of the public. its employe
and the safe operation of thei
trains. If the railroads are mo-
credited with icing interested from
standpoint Of humanity, in full
manning their trains, it must be ad-
mItted that they could be from
standpoint as personal in-I
juries. wrecked equipment, and dam
aged freight are some of the heaviest
items OF expense the railroads have
TO bear. The full crew bill simply
seeks to Igeislate a position for an
uiher and wholly unnecessary man,
and we are sure that if the legisla-
lures we're called upon to create po-
sItions for bank cashiers, office
CLERKS. freight handlers. automobile
rhauifeurs. etc. the request wesld'
"a 4,,rt4.. 81 ha ION ucrpd The full