Denver labor bulletin., 1916-06-17
RAILWAY HAZARDS
NOT RECOGNIZED
Employees Must Assume Risk
and Dig Up Compensation
One Brotherhood Alone, the L. F. and
E., Has Paid Out $ls,lO9, ,l67.5
for Deaths and Disabilities

The following statement was issued
this week from the Cleveland headquar-
ters of the four Transportation Brother
hoods who are campaigning jointly for
an eight hour day.
Who pays for the depreciation in hui
man life, the result of railway operation
When a car or locomotive is smashed
up, a fund has been provided for its re-
newal but when in the same wreck an
engineer, fireman, conductor or brake
man has been crushed out of all semb-
lance to his former self, the other en-
ployes of these classes whose time has
not Yet come, dig down into their pock-
cts and pay for this human railroad
wreckage.
The common law doctrine of assumed
risk has been forced on railroad "m-
ployes as part of their compensation.
To use Western expression, they have
been educated to expect "to die with
their boots Oh"
No Recognition of Hazard.
In no other industry is the occupa-
tional hazard so great as in the making
up and transportation of railwa5 rains.
The railroad industry, however, reflects
no recognition of this hazard in the
wages of it's employees.
The records of the Brotherhood OF Lo-
eomotive Firemen and Enginemen show
that it has paid out to its members Tor
deaths and disabilities the sum OF SIS
G9,lG7.75. More than 60 per cent OF all
deaths and disabilities OF members OF
this organization are caused by railroad
accidents.
During the year 1915 the members of
the brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
were compelled to contribute the great
sum of S2.27O.27992 to the widows and
nrphans of its members who were Killed
during that one year and on account OF
INJURIES and disabilities incurred.
Huge Sums Paid by Workers.
The members of the Brotherhood OF
Railroad Trainmen during the year OF
1915 paid out from their meager earn
mos on account of members killed and
disabled in service, the sum OF S2,4Zl,-
55S.I7.
Members of the Order of Railway Con
ductors nut up 81 ,76l ,4l749 for the re-
lief of their human wreckage IN l9l5'
The extra hazardous nature OF the EN-,
Move of a freight train makes ABSURD
any comparison of wages received, win
railway clerks. section hands and other
employees. -.
considering the fact t hat tram EN-,
Moves are the most skilled oil all ram ioau
wage earners and that they must pa!
,rf such enormous sums as above on ac-
ou. ~ ..buman wreckage," they are en-
t;,Ied 10 work day sufficiently shorI
70 enable them to perform their ardous
aut;os with rested body and prain-
Freioht train crews should at least re-
100 os much as is paid in other traces,
On that they could better afford 70 nh.s' T..
a.. Iosses occasioned by deaths ana III
n,,ies of their members.
Ask Time for Proper Rest.
II ;s certain that reduction in the
hours of labor with proper rest ana re-
c,,neration will better fortify the human
mind and body against accidents OF
norsonol nature and men in frelght trali'
service are now determined to have a
sborter work day and to have their work.
ing conditions approximate as lar as pos
.ible that which obtains in other trades
Railroad Officials claim that if the
demands of the train crews are granted
it will mean an enormous increase IN
wages paid and that the cost OF any IN
crease will fall upon the public.
IF the officials really believe this, why
their strenuous opposition? Does the
history of railroading show any instance
of any great anxiety on the part OF the
railroads to protect the publicf
Car Easily Avoid Overtime
The officials also make statements
that the cost will come out OF the pocN-
cts of the stockholders and in the next
breath they claim that the cost Will faii
upon the farmer and shipper.
The employees claim that the truth OF
the matter is. that there will be little
or no increase in cost by granting an
eight hour day, and in proof of this claim
they cite the fact that sworn statements
Of the railroads in the recent federal ar,
bitration case in Chicago show that %
per cent of thru and irregular freight
trains now make the basic division OF
100 miles in less than eight hours. which
would leave only % per cent OF trains
whose speed would have to be accelerated
in order to avoid the payment Of over
time.