The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-03-01
Sample Each Free by Mail
M'CALEB Says FULL CREW
Law HASN'T ADDED safety
Continued From First paEe.

81 cars westbound, IN order to comply
with the requirements of the full crew
law, resulting in the useless expenditure
of $27,072.49 for the Philadelphia di-
vision alone. This, of course, only ap-
plies to the freight movement.
"In order that you may know some
thing about the work of these brake
men, ] have here a report of observa-
tions made by some of my representa-
tives on number of fast trains on
this division, which show that the
brakemen, of which there are two, per-
formed the following service:
1.-The average time the front brake
man performed service on the entire
trip was 80 minutes, and the rear
brakeman 2S minutes. In other words,
these two men were paid ON the basis of
13 hours work and the combined serv-
ice to this company was a little over
one hour. This investigation shows
clearly that there is nc necessity for
two brakemen on fast freight trains,
and, in fact, there Is very little work
for one brakeman to do, in addition to
the work performed by the conductor
and flagman.
Compliance with the provision of
the full crew law, as it relates to pas
senger trains, makes necessary on my
division alone an expenditure 0pproxi-
mating $4,000 year. Now, as a
straight business proposition, take one
of our through trains, for example, say
train No. 2. No doubt you have rid
den on this train, which leaves Harris
burg at 1880 .. m., and upon which
under the requirements of the full crew
law we were, compelled TO place Sec
ond brakeman. The equipment of this
train alone involves an investment ap-
proximating about $4,000, and sub
nit to you do you think we would per-
init the movement of this train over
the division if we felt it was not prop
erly manneds Further, do you know
that before this second man was put ON
we had total of II employees on that
train, and still have them. This in
cludes the engineman, fireman, con-
ductor, baggagemaster and two brake.
men and rorters.
sit must be recognized that the di-
vision officials are more interested in
the safe operation of their trains than
any one else, and there is no one bet
ter able to judge what is necessary for
the successful operation of trains. Do
you know that there are a number of
trains on this division on which we
have more men than the law requires,
and for which we feel there is use fori
The manning of trains must be fixed
by conditions or circumstances. The
law is not flexible. Under the provis-
ions of the law we can operate a train
of 29 freight ears over this division
with crew of five men, but should we
add one car to that train an extra
man must be placed on same.
"You must realize that our income
must be confined solely to what we
get from the public, and it is the con-
eern of everybody that it should be
spent to the best advantage. IL we
are forced to make an outlay of over
$57, ,O00 on this division from which
We obtain no return, it is obvious that
our ability to accommodate the resi-
dents of Harrisburg and at other points
along the line of the Philadelphia d.
vision will be to that extent decreased.
The public is disconnected through the
curtailment of facilities, related indus.
tries are crippled and wage workers
lose their jobs.
~ believe that the policy that has
been adopted by our company of en-
deavoring to educate the people as
regards the Full Crew Law will result
in their making a demand upon the
State Legislature to repeal the exist.
ing law in the interest of the public.
and as matter of justice and fairness
to all concerned, particularly by reason
of the fact that it is generally admit
ted that the law is wrong in principle
and that, if the number of men EN-
ployed by the railroad companies can be
fixed by law, it will only be a ques-
tion of time until similar laws are
passed affecting other lines of bust
ness"