Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-02-26
IETTERSTOTHE.ED!T0R
TIE FULL CREW LAW

To the Editor of the Telegraph
Relative 10 the full crew law. the
fact Is that 1t takes a good, severe
kick, to let some people know that
kick hurts when it is energetically
placed where it will give the best re-
suits. The full crew law has been
passed to promote safety first. For
the welfare of the public there is moth
ing so impressive as that little motto,
Safety First" Let us bear in mind
what ii means. and what it's results
may be, in failing to man trains prop
erly and sufficiently. 1t means this: 1t
insures greater safety to train en-
ployes and to the passengers, who put
their lives in the hands of the em-
ployes. Another fact which | want TO
call your attention to is of the bright
red printed circulars telling the pas
senger how he was imposed upon by
trainmen, through these laws, that re-
quired enough men to handle the train
safely, has been showed in the face of
every traveller. The Extra Crew Law
has been showed in the face of every
man, woman and child who travels over
these Eastern roads. The effort is
this, to make the public believe there
Is two crews on one train. of which
there is not There are six men to a
crew, and one crew to a train, and that
Is all we ask for A new impression is
that an extra man costs more than
train. The railroads also claim they
are not wanting to put hardships on
they had what they called the SIi6 en-
gine they hauled as high as forty-tive
cars of 60.000l and 10000 capacity. We
then had six men to a crew and one
crew to train. At the present day
they have an engine they call the Ska
superheater, and they haul 10o cars of
100000. 10000 and 100000 capacity.
Note the capacity of the cars and the
difference, of which we still have six
men to a crew and one crew to n train.
Does this look as il they are putting
hardships on their men? Now, on the
other hand. if the fun crew law was to
be repealed, do you think 1t would be
a promotion of Safety First to have one
brakeman to a train of 105 cars, of
which will he If the full crew law is
repealed? Does 1t look as IL the rail-
roads have endorsed that great motto
which they circulated so immensely,
called Safety First? Did the public
ever see a railroad officers special go
over the road? If YOU have, you will
special they have a Full Crew on that
train, along with any number of other
unnecessary appurtenances that did
not make the burden of expense on
read any red ink notices calling atten-
tion to the cost the extra protection
the officer needs when he travels, or an
expression of concern because the ship
per and passenger would have to nay
for it? oh. no; that's different The
public does not understand the dan
gers, difficulties and responsibilities of
railroad work, but get on a train, ride
and get off. and that is all they know
about the matter. The dear farmer
sees the trains running by his farm
and he cannot realize that train work
means much of anything, except a job
of going along and. as he likes to ride
on trains. he cannot see wherein there
is either work or danger. The public
does not know. and therefore 7 do not
think that they should be hoodwinked
in such a manner.
MR.. RAILROAD MAN.