The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-10
KILL SLOW UP BILL
Railroads May Operate Fast
Trains Thru Towns.
Many Regulation Measures Be-
fore State Legislature.

The legislature is not disposed to
interfere with the powers conferred
on the interstate commerce commits
sion and the state utilities commission
for the regulation of railroad opera
ton, judging by the action of the SEN
ate railroad committee in reporting
adversely the two bills by Senator
Chase of Linn county to prohibit
trains from going thru any incorpor-
ated town at greater speed than III
teen miles an hour, and to make IL an
offense to block street crossings long
er than five minutes.
Senator Chase was hurt last fall
when a Frisco train hit his automobile
on a crossing. He told the commit
tee that the accident was not respon-
sible for the bill, but only gave en-
phasfs to the need of legislation to
protect the public.
The railroads showed the commit
tee that towns which have great deal
of traffic over streets are protected by
ordinances regulating the speed. In
many places it is necessary for trains
to run a great deal less than fifteen
miles aQ hour. But in most towns
there is little if any danger element,
and trains can run thru them at a fair
speed with safety. The practice is for
the railroad Officers and the town az
thorities to meet, thresh out their diff
ferences and agree on a regulation to
meet local needs
Hamper Cattle Trains.
The main objection to the speed bill
came from livestock men who said the
proposed law would hamper cattle
trains because of the federal statutes
requiring rest for train crews. after
sixteen hours service and requiring
that cattle be unloaded for feed and
water after twenty-six hours. The
stockmen said that cattle now are
reaching the Kansas City, st. Joseph
and other markets early in the morn
ing, and that the service generally is
satisfactory and they did not want
legislation that would tend to cause
delay.
Railroad men showed the committee
that in some instances long freight
trains, cut for several crossings, could
not be. coupled in five minutes because
of the federal requirement that the air
be tested before starting. An old law
now in effect fixes the maximum time
for blocking a crossing ten minutes.
1t was shown, however, that only in
cases of trouble is it necessary to block
a crossing longer than five minutes.
The committee decided that the pro-
posed legislation was not needed.
Passenger trains would have been
greatly delayed by the operation of
the speed bill, the railroads con-
tended-thru trains about three hours
in crossing Kansas. This would have
given the Burlington, which runs only
a few miles in Atchison and Doniphan
counties. q big advantage over the
Kansas lines. in competition for Col
orado and other western business.
Passenger Train a Day.
Another bill. just introduced in the
senate. requires the railroads to run
passenger train daily each way over
every branch line. regardless of the
volume of passenger traffic handled.
The committee has not yet considered
this measure. The same bill is before
the house railroad committee. and a
hearing on it will be had February 16.
Another bill before the house COM
mittee is known generally the full
crew. bill. Its purpose is to require
the railroads to employ an additional
brakeman for every train. 1t is an old
timer, having been on legislative calen-
dars for dozen years. The railroad
lab Dor unions are backing it. The col
ored porters are disturbed about the
full crew. bill. They think it is to
put them out of business. c. J. Owen
of Kansas City, Kan, porter who
represents himself and his fellow
workmen. will appear before the house
railroad committee to oppose the bill.