The Connecticut labor news., 1923-12-08
R. R. FIREMEN'S CELEBRATION IS GREAT SUCCESS
Record of Achievements in So Years Marks Advance of Amer
 ican Workers.sa

Beginning Sunday, December and, Imeetings were held- throughout the United States and Canada celebrating l. the. 5oth anniversary Of the founding lof the Brotherhood of Loeomotive
 Bremen and Enginemen. On Decem- bersI, .I873,sI4 locomotive hremen in | the service of the Erie railroad met lin Port Jervis, New, York. and under the leadership of Joshua A. Leach, started this great organizations on its career of service to humanity.
 The brotherhood now has mem bership of II8,ooo, who are enrolled under the banner of Protection, Charity, Sobriety and Industry" the motto of the organization since its beginning. Through the beneficiary department there has been paid in death and disability claims to the
 members and their dependents more than thirty million dollars. The or der has in force $I5o,ooo,ooo in i'm surance, and it's total assets are SII,- 438,o37.78 In recent years there has | been established a pension, accident indemnity, and funeral benefit de- partments to further aid the member ship.
 To the locomotive fremen and en-
 zine hostlers this great institution has
 meant reduction of working hours, increase of wages, and dignifying of
 their toll, and improved conditions of health and home. It has stead fastly advocated a saving wage, be- cause a saving wage means a com fortable home, educated children, self respect and good citizenship.
 Through it's national legislative de-
 partment, in conjunction with other
 of 1@h @I1 hood of Locomotive Bremen and
 Enginemen, has advcated legislation of benefit to all the people. An in
 vestigation of such legislation will show an unse1hsh purpose in view. It will show that in practically all in stances public safety, education and health are the controlling idea and purpose of their legislative measures. All bills considered by Congress to improve health conditions and the extension of educational opportunities in the public free schools have had their heart ysupport. The Federal Safety Appliance Law, that placed air brakes and all other safety appliances on railroad trains, was obtained by these organizations after 10 years of struggle and sacrifice. Its approval is said to have been the last official act of President Harrison.
 In Texas these organizations, through their state legislative de partments, have sponsored many laws that merit commendation by the gem
 eral public. They championed the
 first child labor law of Texas, enact ed in 1903, and introduced by Repre-
 sentative Callan, union printer.
 Among other measures receiving
 their effective support are: Compul- |sory school attendance law; free text book law; nine 54 hour law for the protection of women workers; law
 requiring electric headlights on loco
 motives; law requiring two outlets to
 mines; health, safety and comfort law
 for female employees; law requiring
 railroasd to maintain signal lights on
 all main line switches at night, and lprovide derail switches on all main 1 line sidings; law creating the state department of labor; law to protect
 workmen on high buildings from
 falling great distances, and numerous others of like character.
 Through the kindness of the editor of this publication the above facts are given publicity as a tribute to the thousands of patriotic men and wo-
 men who belong to these organiza- tions, and who have performed these lunselfsh and righteous deeds.