New-York tribune., 1915-03-13
Railroad Men Flock to
Jersey City to Hear
Observers Talk.
OPINION EVIDENTLY
AGAINST REPEAL
Asscmblyman BOland, a Brake
man, Defends Measure-Penn.
Engineer Attacks Il.

Railroad men debated the merits OF
the full crew law last night before q
railroad audience in Elks' Hail. Jersey
City. Assemblyman Francis r. Boland,
"A brakeman on the Pennsylvania, ar
gued against repeating the law. II. j..
Fackenthal, Pennsylvania engineer,
argued for its repeal. The audience
seemed TO be with Boland.
From all over New Jersey and from
New York railroad men focked to Jer-
sey City for the debate. Special trains
were run on the New Jersey roads TO
accommodate them. The hall seats
$500. and was jammed. In solid ranks
men stood up in the rear OF the place
Henderson and York Streets we're
Blocked by the throngs that wanted 10
get in and could not. AT o'clock, thu
hour scheduled for the debate, tho
doors were closed and extra police were
called to handle the crowds.
Ia opening the meeting Recorder
John J. McGovern of Hoboken eX-
planned that there would be 10 de
cision from the chair. as. the speaking
was more in the nature of an informal
discussion than a debate.
/ Passenger Trainmaster Manders, OF
/ the Pennsylvania, had a front seat, and
near him were several OF the officials
d of the company.
Says Law A s to Safety.
/ Mr.. Bo!and explained that he was
speaking as an Assemblyman and moi
as trainman.
/ Railroad conditions had changed,
| said Mr.. Boland. The duties of every
/ cmploye Of railroad were much more
complex than in the old days. Trains
were more frequent and were heavier.
! Conductors could no longer take time
from their own duties TO help out an
oyerworked brakeman.
/ Recently" said he, "a high railroad
official announced with pride that ms
road had carried Il 100000 passengers
in 1913 and had not killed one. That
was the wear that the full crew law
went into effect | don't pretend TO
say that the full crew law was respon-
sible. but any reasonable man must
admit that il contributed to this re-
suit.
so far as the freight trains are con-
cerned, brakemcn get about S2.5O
dav-a run of one hundred miles. Ihat
means about quarter OF a cent TON
II hundred miles in added expense 70
the railroad No one can say that it
would add greatly to the cost OF Nv
,ug # a few more brakemen were
sprink.ed among the frcishJs at that
rate.
when Mr.. Rca travels he always
has q Iull crew. / don't see why the
Messenger who PAYS his 2!2 cents u
me isn't entitled 10 as much
Mr.. Fackcnthal laid stress upon the
increased expenses WIN ch railroads
row had to bear. Locomotives and cars
were essential. he declared, and loco,
motives cost $3.50 more tnan they used
to, and passenger cars Sl1l more.
There were increased expenses IN
equipment all along the line. Inc
eXtia men demanded by the new law
were supernumcTarles, n Sald'
Compuls.on Denied.
Employes of the Wayerly freight
wards Of the Pennsylvania Railroad
rear Newark. y. j., were asked by a
clerk yesterday 10 sign petition
favoring the repeal of the full ere"
law. The clerk told them that If they
didn't sign they could report to W. D
Wright. general yardmaster.
Several reported 70 MIR. Wright
forthwith. declaring that they would
not sign the petition even II retuSai
meant discharge. They were members
of the Brotherhood OF Railway Train
men. M. Wright told them that no
compulsion was intended.
Il. L. ODonnel, chairman OF the eX,
ccutive committee of the Associated
Railroads Of Pennsylvania ana Ne"
Jersey, in statement issued yester-
day. figured that compliance with the
T fuil crew law increased operating
costs annually $1,000 for each of the
through trains between New York and
Pittsburgh and New York and Buffalo