Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-02-16
RAILROAD BILLS
we're DISCUSSED
And Senate Committee Kills Sew
eral in Majority Report
Last Night

Tba senate committee on railroads
held an important meeting last eve
ming in teh exposition building, a
nI1mher of prominent railroad men ap'
bearing and the trainnien also oeihs
One of the bills before the commit
tee was S. B. 1919, which. would llmlt
he length of freight trains to 2,640
| feet exclusive of engine and o
and which also provides for conduc'
tors on light engines, helper engines
and a certain number Of employees on
various freight trains.
George r. Slade of St. Paul, first
vice-president Of the Northern racine,
argued against this bill, showing thai
it would increase the cost OF opera.
ton and that unnecessary help would
have to be employed. Limiting the
train length would require more
trains, he said, and increased payrolls.
The bill was reported for indefinite
"postponement by a majority report'
Senator Bronson signing a minority
report in which the bill was recon-
mended for passage.
Personal INJURY Dill.
S. B. PIG, which would make the
railroads pay for all injuries or deaths
to the next of kin of deceased or in.
jured and providing that any settle
ment made would not be binding,
was discussed but action was deferr-
ed.
S. B. 25G, Thoreson, would limit the
number of miles of track assigned to
each section foreman to ten miles and
providing for a minimum number OF
men to be employed thereon. was al
so discussed at length. Mr.. Slade,
speaking for the operat DIS, stated that
the branch lines are now being per-
manently constructed; heavy rails be-
ing used, first class ties, tie plating,
etc, all with a view to lessen the cost
of maintenance. Section foremen are
also furnished with gasoline motor
cars so that they can cover more
ground and cover it more quickly.
The main lines would not be affected
by this bill but the branch lines
would be and the bill would prove a
hardship and unnecessary.
The majority report Of the commit
tee recommends indefinite postpone
ment of this bill. Mr.. Bronson will
present a minority report recommend
ing passage.
Two House Bills.
H. B. 159, relating to railroad stock
yards. also came up last night in this
committee. The only objection Offer
ed by the operators to this bill was
the fact that it contained the prOvis-
ion for a scale in the yards. Mr..
Slade stated that the constitutionality
of a similar provision in a similar law
S now being decided in the supreme
court of Minnesota. He said that the
scales were used by buyer and seller
but We're not a part of the railroad
,stcckhandling facilities. He stated
that the railroads were anxious to see
an increase in the livestock business
done in North Dakota but that if any
such provision We're inserted in the
bill it would probably be fought out
in the courts.
This bill vas recommended for pas
sage by a majority of the committee
after striking out the words land
oSdlCS. "l. blOlloOu VIII UlllS Ill q
minority report probably recommend
ing that section 2 be stricken out.
Section two makes the farmer liable
a penalty if he used the stockyards
for his own private use.
H. B. 154, providing for a hog tight
fence to be built by railroads, was re-
commended to pass. The railroad op-
orators offered no objections what.
ever to this bill.
Railroad Men Here.
Among the railroad men present at
the committees meeting we're: Mr..
Slade, Scott Derrick, superintendent
of the 500 Line; T. II. Lantry, super
intendent Of the n. P. at Glandive: ].
NJ. Boyd. trainmaster, N. p. at Dill
worth: Tracy Bangs, representing the
Great Northern; S. C. Lush, repre-
senting the B. r. 7. of North Dakota:
w. D. Hughes of Jamestown, repre-.
senting the Order of Railway Conduc-
tors, and F. D. McKendry, of Dickin.
son. representing the Order of Rail
way Conductors.