The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-01-20
RELIEF or
USELESS RISK
Of LIFE
Brotherhood of Trainmen Seek
TO Abolish by Law Old Rule
Requiring Men to Work
on Top Of Trains.


santa Fe. y. w.. Jan. 20.-Repre-
sentative skidmore of Colhx county.
champion Of the railroad men in the
house, yesterday introduced House
Bill No. Is, an act which seeks "a
abolish by law n rule Of the railroad
operating heads dating from the old
days of the hand brake Tor freight
trains. and when the control Of the
train rested equally between the en-
gineer In the cab and the brakeman
on the running board. This rule. en-
forced by some roads, OF which the
Santa Fe Is one, ana a dead letter
with others. Of which latter the Dem
yer and Ria Grande ~ an example.
requires the brakeman 90 be on top
OF the train when passing any siding
or station. when ascending or de-
.scending "A grade, n at various 9th
er times, when. according to the
trainman, his presence there can ac-
complish absolutely nothing except 20
Increase the risk Of life and limb Of
the said brakeman. Established
when the hand brake made Il neces-
sary for the brakeman To be on top
NJ almost all times. u h claimed that
~ now ~ an utterly useless and a.
useiessly dangerous rule. Since 1910
the trainmen on the santa re. Mr..
.gkidmore says. have been urnhng the
company to abolish this rule. hut
without success. Now tho trainmen
propose TO abolish Il by law. New
Mexico is the first state whore tho
Legislation has been proposed. a bill
for a national regulatory vet TO this
erect IL pending In congress.
The trninmen. Mr. Skidmore says.
In support Of his hill. do not g 20
evade going on top Of trains when
there IN necessity. and the bin intro
duccd yesterday covers such neoes-
slty. They merely ask that useless
exposure % risk he eliminated.
In further support Of his measure
Mr.. Skidmore has pointed out the
enormous death benefit record Of the
brotherhood Of Hallway Trainmcn'
paid to members killed or injurcH In
train operation. The lists for Jauu-
AIRY OF last year showed a total of
~tasO1t5.35 paid In benefits. and In.
December Of this year rae claims
were recorded. requiring an eNpcndi-
ture Of st9b.9oO. The total death ana
Injury benefits paid by this order "
ANFAlNN w wv W. NHANN VI w.
447.sSG.7s. The lists are thick with
accidents marked switching" and
resulting from falls from slippery
ladders and running boards.
II is claimed for tho skldmore hin
that it can do the railroads no injury
and add nothing to operating eN-
pcnso. while adding materially 20 the
safety of the men. safety first" in
is true sense. they claim, demands
The passage OF the bill, which fol-
lows:
Re II enacted by the Legislature 81
the state Of New Mexico:
Sec. T.. II shall he unlawful for
any officer or agent Of amy railroad
company within the state Of New
Mexico To compel or require train
men or yardmen or other employees to
ride or be on top Of moving trains
or ears. Except when the use Of hand
brakes Is necessary. or for the pur-
pose OF opening or closing retaining
valves. or when necessary To give sig
nais at points where signals given
otherwise cannot be seen.
Sec. . Any railroad official or
agent or others having charge OF the
movement Of rains ar cars. who shall
violate any Of the provisions OF the
foregoing section. shall be guilty of
O misdemeanor, and upon conviction
thereof shall he sentenced To pay a
fine of not less than onc hundred nor
more than i've hundred dollars Each
violation OF this act shall be con-
strued as q separate and distinct Of
Tense.
Sec. Q. An acts and parts Of acts
In conflict herewith are hereby re-
pealed.