Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1915-02-05
FULL CREW LAW PROTECTS
LIFE AND PROPERTY
railroad Employees at Hearing in Olympia Show
Why Law Should Not BE Repealed
Especial Correspondence ,


OLYMPIA, Feb. 3.-Thursday evening of last
week and Monday night of this week were de-
voted to committee hearing on the proposal of
the railroad companies for the repeal of the full
crew law. The railroads failed in their case
presenting no facts capable of support by figures
Inc tralnmen, on the other hand, showed by a
MASS OF ngures and the most unanswerabe argu
nieht' tnat the law is necessary for the protec.
ton OF the lives of the men in the train service
as well as for the safety of the travelling public
entrusted to their care. The hearing attracted
VIDE attention and the large committee room in
which it was held was crowed with large MN
Der OF interested listeners
After protest the railroads were forced to
present their side of the case first, and their
objection to this was that they had made public
their plans and intentions, and the trainmen
nad not and they were entirely in the dark as
10 the plans of the traihmen The trainmen
were sustained in their argument that as they
were not asking for any new legislation on the
SUBJECT that the railroads sho ufd show cause
why the full crew law should be repealed
w. Z. Albee, superintendent of the Tacoma
DIVISION OF the Northern Pacific. and chairman
OF the railroad companies legislative committee
opened with short talk on the way the full
crew law happened to be enacted, stating that
the railroads made no fight against it because
they had the assurance of Governor Hay that he
would look after the railroads interest at Olym-
pla Mr.. Albee also stated that the reason that
they had not tried to repeal the law at the last
session of the legislature was because the legis-
lature was then made up of lot of crazy horse
members who couldn't be handled, but that this
ooooiOu war composed OF GOOD sound business
men to whom he could put business PROPOSE
tion He declared he would show that there was
no merit In the full crew law and said it was a
burden to the railroad to the extent Of $4,000
per year In the state, However, he did not pro-
duce facts and figures to substantiate this and
as was the case in all of the railroad companies
arguments, expected to be taken at his word.
Mr.. Albee endeavored to convince the Joint COM
mite that the full crew law was useless and
added in no manner to the safety of the en-
pioyes Or travelling public He did not confine
himself to actual facts, however
At III p. m. an adjournment was taken until
Monday, February /, at 1880, when the en-
ployes represented by Robert Mcintyre, vice
president of their brotherhood, placed facts and
figures before the committee that were astound-
Ing. He outlined the work or employees stating
how exact the employe must be at all times
when on duty and any failure on the part OF
the employe could result in nothing but loss of
life and limb, to himself or to those entrusted
to his care. 1t is hard for anyone who does not
understand transportation rules to realize the
grave necessity OF having sufficient number
OF trainmen on every train. The average person
travelling does not appreciate the full crew law,
for they do not know nor have they any means
OF finding out II they are properly protected. II
the travelling public could understand at all
times the different situations that have to be
met and overcome by the train crew they would
sooner put to sea in leaky ship than to board
a train with insufficient men to assure proper
protection.
1t was clearly proven that when railroad
trainman or engineer reaches the age of As
years ne can no longer secure employment from
any railway company. Therefore, 1t behooves
man In train or engine service to be caerful and
not incur the enmity of his superors, for should
they discharge him he could never again secure
employment as a, train or engine man, for he
has passed the age limit Of As years.
We need not dwell on the dangers that con-
stantly hover over railroad man In his daily
work. We believe that the fact that every
seven minutes one railroad trainman is injured
and every "a hours nine are killed in the United
States tells more plainly than any orator, with
all his polished elouence, the dangers that
railroad trainman is subjected to- To reduce
the number of men on train crew means addi-
tional danger TO everyone who may come in
contact with the railroad trainmen in pursuance
of his work.
Mr. Mcintyre conducted the entire defense
for the trainmen while Mr.. A1bee called and
questioned many railroad officials, among them
Superintendent w. R. Smith of the Great North
ern; Mr. Shannon, tranmaster of the Milwaukee
road; Mr. Innes, trainmaster of the Northern
Pacific; Mr.. Banks superintendent of safety OF
the Northern Pacific system, and Mr.. A. w.
Perley, former railroad inspector and now
special representative of the O.-W. r. & N. COM
pnay. 1t was very gratifying to sec that there
was not employee in the state to take q stand
against the full crew law and the railroads had
to rely entirely the testimony Of its officials,
with no facts in figures to bear out their conten-
tions.
FINE AND IMPRISONMENT