Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-05-17
LEGISLATURE NEWS
RAILROAD MEN
WRITE GOVERNOR
Ask Him to Stand Against the
Bill to Suspend the Full
Crew Law Operation


Members of the legislative boards
late yesterday addressed a letter to
Governor Brumbaugh protesting
against the Mckee bill to suspend
the full crew law.
The letter was as follows:
"Our Dear Governor:
I'VE are prompted to address you
relative to the proposed act of assem-
bly, suspending the so-called Full
Crew Bill during the period of the
war and for six months thereafter.
Samuel Rea, president of the
Pennsylvania Railroad, in addressing
you stated that he did so in his ca
pacity as member of the committee
ton with the Counsel of National
Defense. For the same reason hat
Mr.. Rea alleges should prompt you
to favor the suspension of the Full
Crew act of assembly we adopt and
advance as among our reasons for
the retention of the Full Crew act
to wit. We also realize the supreme
Importance and necessity of utilizing
to the utmost in the present emer-
gency all the man power that the
State and Nation possesses and that
the present period is radically diff
ferent from the ordinary conditions
existing before the war"
Are we mistaken in our judg-
ment OF real genuine patriotism? Is
it patriotism for q railroad president,
a member OF the committee of the
Railroad Executives properly called
upon to render assistance to the
committee on national defense to
first give expression to the thought
of the railroad system of which he
is president and suggest that the So
called Full Crew bill on the statute
books of Pennsylvania be suspended? :?
Experience and the test of thorough
trial has shown that the so-called eX-
ira man is necessary member of a
railroad crew on all of the larger
trains both freight and passenger un-
der all conditions. How much more
necessary is this one man needed in
the time of great national strain :?
The railroads have asked the gov
ernment to spare the drilled and ex-
roperty-the roadbed, bridges and
culverts. The railroad men by rea-
son of their training to both hard
ships and dangers do not hesitate
at this time to offer their services to
the country. The entire train crew
provided for by statute can be sworn
into military service and perform the
service of guarding the trains and
every service necessary in the pro-
lection of the railroads while on
duty.
I'VE do not understand the phil
osophy of suspending a good thor
oughly tested law for the purpose OF
securing inexperienced men for the
military service and taking from the
military service experienced men.
The power now rests with the gov
ernment to take many of the young
men from the service. Their en-
ployment is not a protection under
the selective conscription act of Con-
gress-do the railroads expect less
danger and trouble in operating their
trains during the war? The oper-
alton of the trains carrying soldiers
and the traffic by reason of our war
are to be safeguarded and more so at
this time than during the peace
period.
I'm our preparation for war is this
not the time for the adoption and
preservation OF every appliance both
mechanical and human for the pro-
lection of our citizens, soldiers and
traffic upon the great railroad sys-
TENS of our country?
I'm view of the above statements
of fact, therefore, we beg of you in
behalf of organized labor that you
do not accede to the request con-
tanned in the letter of Mr. Rea and
use your influence to secure the pas
sage Of the Mckee bill. On the other
hand we most earnestly implore you
to maintain your stand as the friend
and champion of labor and do what
you can to maintain the present law
on the statute books of our Common
wealth.
I'VE beg to remain,
yours very respectfully,
IS. r. FARMER,
"Order of Railway Conductors.
&c. b. ROWAND
brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen,
State Legislative Boards"