The Penn's Grove record., 1915-03-26
JERSEYROADSW|N
FULL CREW FIGHT
Commission to Decide Number
Of Men Needed on Each Train
STEVENS BILL WITHDRAWN
Great Crowd at Joint Legislative
Hearing - Managers of Several
Railroads Explain Waste IN
der the Present System.
Especial Trenton Correspondence

State House attended the discussion
before the joint Legislative Commit
tee of the two bills introduced by AS
s~emblyman Stevens Of Cape May
County to repeal the full crew law
affecting the railroads passing
through the State.
Assemblyman Stevens decided to ac-
cept a substitute bill offered by friends
of the railroads which would place
the operation of the full crew law in
the hands of the Board of Public Util-
ity Commissioners, permitting them
to decide in the case of each train
separately how many men constitute a
full crew. This is one of the points
principally urged by opponents of the
present law, who hold that it is inn
possible to apply an arbitrary stand
ard to the entire railroad service.
The speakers supporting the repeal
were marshaled by Marcus A. Beeman,
Secretary of the State Chamber of
Commerce, and represented all the
railroads in the State. Two of the
points dwelt on by most of the speak
ers were the many improvements
made in the mechanical operation of
railroads in recent years, which en-
able a few men to perform what was
formerly the work of a considerable
number, and the unreasonableness of
which make no stops in the entire
State of New Jersey, except. perhaps,
at Manhattan Transfer, or through
freight trains which make only one or
two stops to carry extra men in the
came number as local freight or
passenger trains stopping at every
station.
]. E. Reynolds, general attorney for
the Central Railroad of New Jersey,
told the Legislature that the fulI-crew
statute compelled railroads operating
in New Jersey to employ 492 useless
men at an annual outlay of 1871 .125.
"The railroads intend to man ev-
cry train, passenger and freight, ac-
cording to the requirements of safety
and operating efficiency" he said, "but
they contend that the right number Of
men cannot be fixed without regard to
the service to be performed by each
train"
George S.. Patterson, General Solicit
tor for the Pennsylvania Railroad, at
tributed much industrial depression to
the misfortunes of the railroads.
"The decrease in net operating rev.
enue of the railroads is due almost en-
tirely to increases in expenses caused
in part by laws such as the extra crew
law" said Mr.. Patterson. "The rail
road securities of the country are not
held by a few wealthy men, but by the
savings banks, with their $500, 900 de-
positors; by life insurance companies,
with their 10000, 900 policies out
standing, and by small investors. The
Pennsylvania Railroad system alone
has more than 1O0,0 900 stockholders
and probably as many bondholders."
c. H. Stein, Superintendent of the
Central Division of the Central Rail
road of New Jersey, contended that
efficiency of railroad operation invoIv-
ed the two factors of safety and econ
omy.
81 cannot believe" he said, Jthat a
railroad official would attempt any sys-
ten of operation that would disregard
the principles of safety, even for the
sake OF economy. Public opinion is
too strong"
Mr.. Stein proceeded with the argu-
ment that the full crew law rather
lessened than increased the safety of
railroad traffic.
"a large number of trains on all
railroads, he said, had the extra man
on before the law became effective,
and hence were not affected by the
act. The work on these trains was of
such a character that in order to ac-
complish expeditions movement an ex-
ira man was needed. But the intro
duceion of this law forced us to place
various men on through freight and
passenger trains where there was not
the slightest measure of benefit to be
derived"
Mr.. Stein added that many of his
employees concurred in these opinions
and had said they would be glad to APP
pear before the Legislative Commit
tee if it could be done without publici-
ty, but that they feared the derision
that might be cast on them by other
workingmen if they were called out
IA the open against it.
Confusion in Expenditures.
One criticism of the present Statl
system made by Senator Read is that
it results in confusion in making a
clear analysis of State expenditures
from year to year. For example, the
expenditures for the fiscal year 1915.
as estimated by the last Legislature,
will be increased by at least $3.50, 900
by the present Legislature.
The Republicans have talked about
a State tax, and Senator Read has
declared that the situation at this time
looks very much as though the State
tax will be necessary.
Progressives to Confer.
The future of the Progressive party
in New Jersey is to be determined to
a large extent at q State conference
in the latter part of April.
The announcement of this coming
conference is of interest to the many
Progressives, who in recent weeks
have been casting about for new POI
lltical associations.
The main purpose of the coming
State conference is to secure con.
eerted action on the part of the New
Jersey P~rogressives so as to keep
tnem together as much as possible.