New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-15
PLEAD FOR REPEAL
OF FULL CREW LAW
Representatives of Every
Railroad in the State
Urge Action.
ASSERT IT WASTES
S1,lOO,0OO A YEAR
Opposing Employees Tell Sena-
tors the Statute Is Fair, Just
and Necessary.
-rr,- s,s- Correspondent o. IN, TrSun,l

fFrsr A sta- Correspondent o. The 7hbunsl
Albany, April IA Representatives OF
every railroad IN the State Of New
York asked for the repeal Of the full
crew law, passed in 1913. at the hearing
on the Spring bill before the Senate
Public Service Committee to-day.
"The Legislature by enacting this
law" said Ira II. Place. vice-president
OF the Now York Central, Caused the
railroads Of this state to spend last
year sl.1OoOOO which would have been
far better used had it been thrown
into a ditch
All the railroad representatives OBJ
jected 20 the Spring bill, which leaves
the law az II stands, but gives the Pub
JIG Service Commission, on application
Of a railroad. power 20 reduce the size
of train crew in its discretion. The
railroads declared in favor Of the Conk-
ling bill. which repeals the full crew
law and gives to the Public Service
Commission the right to regulate the
size of train crews.
Representatives Of all the branches
Of railroad employees opposed any tam
noring with the law. saying the full
crew act was fair. just and necessary.
Several of the speakers for the en-
moves frankly admitted that on many
roads the full crew law had no erect
because these roads already properly
had manned their trains. Thomas [.
RYAN, representing the firemen and en-
cineers. said: IF you're going TO
change the law YOU should provide for
an extra trainman on freight trains
fifty or more cars in length.
Subversiye of Discipline.
A. II. Smith, president Of the. New
York Central. speaking for all the
roads. said the full crew law divided
responsibility and was so subversive
of proper discipline that under It no
raiIroad could be safely operated.
Since the enactment of the full crew
law. employees had taken the attitude
.Aat if the roads would not grant tnelr
demands they would appeal 10 the
Legislature.
well. we don't know anything about
running railroads up here IN Albany
Senator Elon K. Brown remarked.
Am mere III Alt Al4NNiNoN "a ~
safe and proper operation OF the rail
roads of this state" Mr.. Smith SAID,
"in the interests Of the railroads them
selves, Of their employees, and OF the
public Of the state generally Inc
three interests are the same.
Mr.. Smith declared the activity OF the
Legislature IN seeking to repeal the fuii
crew act was evidence that the law as
had and not in the interests Of safety.
In repealiug the law the Legislature
would be putting the burden OF prop
erlv manning the trains where II pc
longed- with the managers OF the
roads.
ut IS their business" Mr.. Smith con-
4jnued. "and il should be their responsi-
b;litv to see 20 IL not only that there
are safe and proper roadbeds and prop
or and safe equipment, but that N re
IS proper number of men on any par
ticular train. One train may require
fewer men than the law requires and
another more
Means Government Operation.
Mr.. Smith objected TO placing this re
sponsibility with the Public service
Commission, remarklng:
THAT is governmental operation and
not governmental regulation, govern
mental responsibility
II. A. Stone, vice-presldent OF the
Erie, said the two years IN which the
full crew law has been IN operation
had proved its impracticability, ITS
uselessness and wastefulness.
I've have spent $55O,OOO wastefuily
as the result Of this law said MI
Stone, money we could have used 10
improving our plant and making pas
sengers more comfortable. The law
has demoralized the men, destroyed
discipline. and has been Of no advan-
tage to the public. The money spent
under its provisions would have been
better thrown into the Hudson
Assemblyman James NJ. Mead, g
brakeman, of Buffalo, made spirited
speech IN defence of the full crew law
describing il as a humanitarian meas
ure, and declaring a great wrong would
be done if it were repealed. "All the
railroads in the state made money las
YEAR" he added