The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1915-03-12
RAILROAD
OFFICIALS
Claim Full Crew Laws
Entail Extra Burden.
Efforts Made For
Repeal.
CIRCULAR LETTER ISSUED
CIRCULAR LETTER ISSUED

In . circulsr just issued 10 the stock
holders OF the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road, Danniel willard, President Of ths
Company. calls attention to the increaset
burden that road hes had to assume on &C
count Of the so-cslled Full Grew laws in ii "
states in which il operates and TO tn,
similar movement in other states Q,
adopt the same measure.
At the present time effort is being made
10 have this Law repealed by the legis-
lstures in session in the states where il i
In effect on the Il. K o., namely, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Marlsnd, Ohio
and Indiana.
Mr.. Willard's letter follows:
ITO the Stockholders Of The BaItimor
and Ohio Railroad Company:
During the last five years the Iegis-
latures Of i've states in which the Balti
more and Ohio Company operates, name
ly. New Jersey, PennsyIvanis, Maryland,
Ohio and Indiana, have. in Difference to
the representations made by certain Ia.
Dor organizations. psssed 90 called ''FulI
Crew laws. and the same kind Of legis-
iation has been urged in all the states
which your company serves. These laws
specifically require the railroad com mpanies
70 employ . greater number of brskemen
upon freight and passenger trains under
eirtain circumstances than ths officers of
zour Company think .nspssary or desi-
rable.
1T should be kept in mind that st the
present time the railroad companies are
not permitted TO run any train-freight
or passeneer-unless the cars are all
equipped with automatic couplers and
air brakes, and the brakes all in use or
enough OF them in use to give the engi-
neer full control Of the train. Notwith-
standing this fact, and 5y virtue OF the
laws above referred to, it is necessary on
certain portions Of the road to employ
more brskemen upon freight and pas
senger trains than were employed before
air brakes and automatic coupIers were
applied.
The Baltimore and Ohio Company.
because OF the additional number Of men
employed on account Of these laws, 10 re-
quired now 10 pay approximately $3.50
600 Per snnu.n, and il ls estimated that
the total amount Of such payments would
be over SEQ. 900 per snnum Ia sum near
lv equal 70 one-half OF one per cent. upon
the entire stock Of your company il sim
liar laws were passed in all Of the stsse-
In which it operates. This amount of
money per snnun would be sufficient TO
equip 300 miles Of main line with electric
automatic signals. or sufficient 10 boy %
sil-steel coaches, or IL would meet the
annual charges at per cent. upon an
expenditure Of ST., 10000.
"A similar Law ps-sed by the Ieeis-
lstnre in the stats Of MISSOURI in 1913
was rejected By q very large majority Of
the voters Ct that state at the last cleo
ton Twenty Of the principal railroads
operating in Pennsylvsnia api New Jer-
~ are now endeavoring thrAush q pub
Inc campaign Of publicity 10 bring about
the repeal Of these laws in the two states
mentioned.
The purpose Of this communication
10 70 bring the subject % the attention Of
the individual stockholders Of the Balti.
more and Ohio Company, and b urge
them % give this matter their serious
consideration. unbesitstingIy give my
personal a~sursnce that the eject of such
laws . 70 work hardship in the end upon
the general public in that II diver< 70
wrongful purpo~es. money which might
better be spent in snch channels a. would
bring beneficial result. % ali. such laws
are Unfair 10 the great body Of railroad
employs, and the Unnecessary cost they
impose upon the compsnies threatens The
sscurify Of individuals, and earnestly
request you, - the owners of this prop
erty. 70 carefully consider this matter
and talk With Others about IL in the hope
that The subject may he clesrly under
stood and this unwise Legislation repealed
and further legislation Of o similar kind
prevented The question, IL it needs pub
Inc regulation at ali, is one which should
be handed by the railroad commissions
In the several stase- after full bearing
is hsd for the purpo~e Of developing Ell
the fscn.
''Yoof immetists action is nscs.ssry
70 make The foreeoing suggestion effective.
DANIEL. WTIIxHn