The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1922-06-30
STATE
CAPITAL
Full Crew Decision.

Public Service Commission delegating
to railroads in the State power to de-
termine the size of their train crews,
pursuant to the repeal of the Full
Crew Law, were expressed by railroad
officials and Henry F. Broening, presi.
dent of the Federation Of Labor.
Officials of the various railroads are
highly gratified, as was expected, by
the action of the Utilities Board, which
gives them full control of their freight.
train crews, while the labor head,
representing the organization which
formed the most pronounced opposition
to the repeal of the full-ereW measure.
declared that the decision Of the Com.
mission means fiat repeal Of the law,
which was thought to have been only
modified by placing 1t under the dis
cretion of the Commission.
"We are not much disappointed be-
cause of the announcement of the
hands-off policy of the Public Service
Commission" declared Mr.. Broening.
"It is about what we expected. The
rider on the Full-Crew Repeal Bill, Civ.
ing the Commission control Of the
trainmen, was from the first thought
by labor men to be only weak apok
ogy for the outright repeal of the meas
ure, for we anticipated little consid-
deration from the Utilities Board.
"The immediate effect Of the decision
will be felt by at least one-third Of the
trainmen in the State. Instead of the
six men formerly required on a freight
train, the railroads will now employ
FIVE, and in many cases it is probable
that the number will be cut to three.
In fact, the railroads have already an
nounced their intention to drop ono
man from each train. This. however,
was to be expected. But we believe IL
to be only matter OF time when more
will be dropped.
$50 far as the labor men are con-
cerned, the fight to retain the full-crew
in effect If not as an actual
statute, is over. We can do nothing
to prevent the railroads from cutting
their crews on large scale. We fought
in the Legislature for the rights and
the safety of the train-workers and
were defeated.
''It is now up to the Public Service
Commission and the railroads to pro-
tect the trains and the lives OF the
workers The Commission has not had
time to adequately investigate working
on trains with the view to
the number Of men needed
for safety. The railroads are infiu-
enced by reasons of economy. So until
a few train accidents demonstrate the
need of a full-crew enforcement we
hardly expect either the railroads or
the Utilities Board to reconsider their
action"
Maxwell C. Byers, president Of the
Western Maryland Railway, stated that
the management of that road will
make a thorough study of the freight
situation before making any definite
statement as to what policy would be
adopted under the Commissions de-
cision. The investigation will require
a good deal of time, he said, and no
action will be taken in the near future.
D. X. Brent, general attorney OF the
Baltimore and Ohio, declared that the
effect of the decision would hardly
throw many men out Of work. The
railroads will endeavor to provide other
employment for those removed from
their regular runs. he pointed out,
and the remainder, he said, would be
placed on a reserve list and be. placed
on trains as business increased.
Governor Orders Wade To Trial.
Governor Ritchie declared Samuel
Leibowitz had attempted to blackmail
him into refusing to require DR.. j.
Hubert Wade, treasurer of the Board
Of Prison Control and chairman Of the
State Central Committee.
to face public trial.
DIR. Wade is accused of accepting an
as gift from LeiboWitz,
who was interested in the sale of sup
plies to State prisons.
The Governor ordered the trial,
which will be held in his Offices in the
Union Trust Building, Thursday. Eu-
gene O'Dunne, who brought the
charges against DR.. Wade, will be per-
mitted to produce his own witnesses
and to cross-examine the accused IL he
takes the stand in his own behalf.
Leibowitz denied emphatically that
he had attempted to blackmail Gov
ernor Ritchie in any way and said he
had committed no wrong. He adj
mitted, however, that he had given q
of whisky to the Governor
The Governors statement about the
attempted political blackmail ID the
most sensational feature OF the
charges in connection with the Wade
case thus far. He charged that Leioo-
witz on Tuesday of last week told him
that if he would decline to bring Dr.
Wade to trial on the charge concern
ing the gift Of an automobile that he,
Leibowitz, DR.. Wade and all OF DR..
Wade's friends would support him
with their money and in every other
to the Office he now holds. On the
other hand, he charged that Leibo-
witz said that If the Governor did
bring Dr. Wade to trial. he, Leibo-
witz would publicly expose the Gov
ernor for accepting gift OF q guam
tity of liquor from him.
Cambridge.-W. Laird Henry, Emers
son C. Harrington and George Albert
Thompson, Jr., trustees, have sold the
real estate of Joseph B. Andrews,
bankrupt, of Hurlock, the total pro-
ceeds amounting to over $125,000.
Benson To Open Campaign.
Carville D. Benson. candidate for the
nomination for Representa-
tive from the Second Congressional dis
trict opened his campaign Monday