The Butler Weekly Times Newspaper, October 22, 1914, Page 3

OF VITAL INTEREST -TO EVERY CITIZEN IN COMING ELECTION A Law Which Would Cost Railroads of the.State Over a Half Million Dollars Extra Yearly In last week’s article we discussed the question of what the railroads do with their income. In a future. article we will take up the enormous increased cost of labor, and all kinds of railroad supplies, the installation of block sig- nals, steel cars, heavier steel rails, larger locomotives, better road beds, doing away with grade crvssings, etc. In most instances these added costs were unavoidable—conducing as they ing 40 curs or more and upon all pas- senger trains carrying 6 cars or more. At the present time through. and . local freight trains are manned as follows: “One engineer to run the engine, One fireman to run the fire, One conductor to run the train, One flagman or brakerian to flag the train, ; One brakeman for such other ser- vices as occasion may require. In addition to these, there are switcH- ing crews who make up trains at all terminal points and inspectors who as- sist in looking out for such defects as might endanger the running of trains— a point which is being emphasized so strongly in the sentimental hand bills and bill boards throughout the state. From the above enumeration it should do to the greater safety and comfort of be apparent to any thinking man_ that the public, the employee, and a more efficient and adequate service to the people generally. Occasionally, how- ever, the railroads have been compelled to pay an unnecessary tribute simply . because they were unable to help them- selves, and a typical example of this can be found in Proposition No. 9, which is known asthe ‘‘Full Crew Bill, ’’ and which will be voted upon at the forthcoming election in November. As the reader will doubtless recall, this act was passed by the last Legis- lature, and so unfair and unnecessary has it been considered that 97,971 citi- zens scattered all over the state, signed petitions which will zive the voters an opportnnity to reject it under the Re- ferendum Law and thus protect the railroads of Missouri against this un- fair dmand which, unless rejected at the polls, will cogt them over a half million dollars extra every year from this time forward. The title of ‘‘Full Crew Bill’? was evidently bestowed upon the act to pur- posely mislead the public—to create the impression that present train crews are insufficient and incomplete—that there are fewer men employed on trains than is necessary for their safe opera- tion when, as a matter of fact, there is no unperformed service which could be. assigned to the ‘‘extra brakeman”’ de- manded by this law, and who is to be placed upon every freight train carry- there is no legitimate service which this extra brakeman can perform which is not already adequately provided for. As a matter of fact, a brakeman on @ modern freight or passenger train is a misnomer for the reason that for years all trains have been controlled by air brakes appliedby the engineer from the engine and which control the entire train. The amount of air used on trains is regu- lated by the Government—and hence, since there was no vacant place for this “extra brakeman,’’ the framers ot the bill chose to mask the unfairness of their demands by. specifying that he shall be employed upon all trains car- rying an excess of the number of cars stated above. How Trains Operate The operation of a railroad train, just like the operation of a threshing machine, saw mill, or any other piece of machinery, requires only a certain number of men, and any excess of this number aré more of a hindrance than a help because they get in each other’s way. A train of 50 or 60 cars operates exactly like a train of 40 cars. The movement and control is not per car, like drawing a single bucket of water on a windlas, but the train of 40 or 60 cars all move together like the cups on a pump chain—and 60 cups are no more difficult to handle than 40—and, except for the greater motive power demand- ed from the engine, require no more care or attention from the trainmen in charge. The act was passed on the er- roneous assumption that the number, character, and extent of the duties of brakemen increase in proportion to the increased number of cars, which is not true because, as stated before, the entire train, regardless of its length, is controlled from the engine. A law might just as. well_be passed requiring farmers to put an extra driv- er on a self-binder because it requires three horses to_pull it instead of two— or‘on a harrow because it now has 60 teeth instead of 40 as formely. Why demand two brakemen on a train of 39 cars and three on one of 40 cars? The state is now being flooded with sentimental literature appealing to vot- ers to fasten this unfair and unneces- sary burden upon thle railroads of Mis- souri and, as usual, the plea of.. ‘‘hu- manity’’ is being put forth with great cleverness to catch the sympathy of the public—and always is the idea held out that this ‘‘extra brakeman’’ would prevent all manner of wrecks and cal- amities. If this were true, the railroads themselves would be the first ones to put on these extra men for, struggling as they are to save every dollar possi- ble, they are the ones most vitally con- cerned in preventing wrecks, injured workmen, and mishaps of every kind— which are always costly. But statis- tics contradict those who put forth this specious argument. Out of 2718 trains run over three divisions of the M. K. ~ State Commission Has Power If any earthly excuse remains for the proposed law, the last vestige of it disappears from the fact that the last Legislature created a Public Service Commission which has_ specifically del- egated to it the power to regulate the number of men to be employed on any railroad train in Missouri. mission could make its requirements of certain compariies whose road and character of freight might require more trainmen than certain other roads which operate under entirely different condi- tions. j vice Commission is in position to dis- criminate between the. different roads —and hence, instead of adopting a hard and fast law for all time to come for every railroad in the state, it would seem but a matter of conimon fairness and justice to leave the matter in the hands of this Tribunal which the Leg- This Com- In other words, the Public Ser- islature created for this. specific pur- pose. If this is not the correct view, then why was the Public Service Commis- sion brought into existence? Why not let it perform the functions for which it was created? Why commence tak- ing its powers away from it before it hus been given. an opportunity to exer- cise them? Certainly if those who de- mand thé ‘Full Crew Bill’? have faith in the justice of their claims they will |not be afraid to take their chances be- fore an impartial Commission which has full power to grant forthwith the re- &T. in a given time, investigation | lief they ask? shows that there were 119 accidents on trains carrying less than 25 cars and only 79 accidents on trains carrying more than 25 cars. On the Union Pa- cific in Kangas in January, 1913, there were five accidents on trains’ carrying less than 25 cars. During the same period 644 trains were run, all of them carrying more than 25 cars, without a single accident.. So the statistics of many other roads could be given show- propaganda is based purely upon senti- ment rather than facts—that the hu- manity plea is being put forth to catch the, sympathy of the people in order that they may give their approval to this unfair measure. Thare isn’t a railroad in Missouri which doesn’t stand ready to put on extra men the moment the Public Ser- vice Commission says that it believes that such extra men are nesgary to in- sure the greater welfare of the public or the greater safety of its employees. A Duty to the Public - As the largest employers of labor in the United States, the railroads have been and are the friends of the hun- ing conclusively that the ‘‘Full Crew’’ | dreds of thousands of workingmen who | operate their business, and they have always been ready to listen to any reasonable plea, whatever its character, | and will continue to-do so. er hand, however, the railroads also owe a grave duty to the public. from On the oth- which they derive their patronage, and which in the end must bear the brunt of an unfair burden as well as one of a fair one. enacted into law it will cost the rail- roads of Missouri over a half million dollars a year extra for employees who are not needed and who have no earth- ly chance to give value received for the pay they draw—and this extra half million dollars will eventually have to come out of the pockets of the farmers, merchants, manufacturers, and other railroad patrons and consumers of the state. In this connection, it may be of interest to the reader to know that similar ‘‘Full Crew Bills’’ have been vetoed in recent years by Gov, Hughes and Gov. Dix of New York, Gov. Foss of Massachusetts, Gov. Harmon of Ohio, Gov. Cruce of Oklahoma, and de- feated in Texas and numerous other states by the Legislatures. . As has already been indicated in these articles, the time is at hand when the railroads will haye to have some substantial increase in rates, if the most of them are to be preserved from bankruptcy. It is their de- sire, therefore, 3 to make thisadded burden upon the public just as light as possible—and they would be recreant in their duty to the people if they.did not point out. to them the unfairness of the ‘‘Full Crew Bill,’’ which seeks to levy a tribute of more than a half million dollars yearly upon them from th’s time forward—a tribute which, as has been stated before, would finally have to be borne by the people them- selves, In view of the foregoing facts, are not the railroads and the general public justified in asking that those who de- mand the ‘‘Full Crew Bill’? submit their‘claims to a Public Service Com- mission which has full power to grant such relief as the conditions on the dif- ferent roads might justify, after a careful inquiry into each particular sit- uation?—Paid Adv. (To be continued.) Marriage Licenses If the “Full Crew Bill” is} FACTS AND FICTION Experiences of Butler Citizens Are Easily Proven to be Facts. The most superficial investigation will prove that the following state- ment from a resident of Butler is true. Read it and compare evidence of strangers living so far away you cannot investigate the facts of the, case. Many more citizens of Butler endorse Doan’s Kidney Pills. Nathan Bailey, 813 West Pine St. Butler, says: ‘‘About three years ago, I suffered from a dull, heavy pain in my back and the passages of the kidney secretions were too fre- quent. Being advised to try Doan’s Kidney Pills, I did and they cured me of the attack in a short time. Since then, whenever I have felt in need of a kidney ‘medicine, T have taken Doan’s Kidney Pills and they have benefited me.”’ Price 50c,~at all dealers. Don’t simply ask for a kidney remedy— get Doan’s Kidney Pills—the same that Mr. Hailey had. Foster-Milburn Co., Props., Buffalo, N. Y.- Adv. 1 __ «52-2 How to Vote. Don’t forget that under the blanket ballot system, you strike out five of the six ballots by a line drawn from top to bottom across them. The re- maining ballot is the one you want to vote, and you-can proceed with this as if it were the only ballot on the sheet,scratching out the names of any candidates you do not wish to vote for and inserting the names of others below them. Youcan not vote on portions of two or more-party tickets on your ballot. You must scratch out all but one and make any changes on that. ; The ladies of the W. C. T. U. will | meet Friday afternoon at 3 o’clock at the home of Mrs. Ellis Tuttle on East Walnut street. Everyone cordially invited to attend. ‘The County Clerk's Publication Of the Nominations Certified to her by the Secretary of State and those on file in her office, as the same will appear on the Official Ballots. Also Publication of the Con- stitutional Ballot, and Ballot for Special Election increasing county indebtedness to Build Poorhouse. DEMOCRATIC TICKET For Senator in Congress for Missouri: WILLIAM J, STONE For State Superintendent of PublicSchools: HOWARD A. GASS For Judge Supreme Court (Division No. One): JAMES T. BLAIR REPUBLICAN TICKET For Senator in Congress for Missouri: THOMAS J. AKINS \ s PROGRESSIVE TICKET For Senator in Congress for Missouri: ARTHURN, SAGER PROHIBITION TICKET For Senator in Congress for Missouri: 0. J, HILL SS SOCIALIST TICKET For Senator in Congress for Missouri: THOMAS E, GREENE For State Superintendent of Public Schools: WILLIAM P, EVANS For Judge Supreme Court (Division No. One): : R. S. ROBERTSON — For Representative in Congress, Sixth Dis- trict: ~ . CLEMENT C, DICKINSON For State Senator, Sixteenth District: JOHN BALDWIN For Representative: JAMES N. SHARP oo For Presiding Judge County Court: RUFUS B. CAMPBELL For Judge County Court, North District: ESTES SMITH : ¢ For Judge County Court, South Distriet: WILLIAM H., LOWDER SES ESOL SUC SE ra wien emer asm For Judge Probate Ccurt: CARL J. HENRY FS SASS SEG toe SE Cee ae ea ae Fer Clerk Circuit Court: HERMAN 0. MAXEY Cierk Connty.Court (Unexpired term of "S a. Weebay:. ‘ : ‘MRS, LUELLA WEEKS ‘For Clerk County Court; FRANK HOLLAND - For Recorder of Deeds: 28 CHARLES E. FORTUNE For Representative in Congress, Sixth Dis- trict: A. J. YOUNG For State Superintendent of Public Schools: HARRY C. MYERS For State Superintendent of Public Schools: JOHN W. HARRIS For State Superintendent of Public Schools: WILLIAM L. GARVER SOCIALIST LABOR TICKET For Senator in Congress for Missouri: J. W, MOLINEUX For State Superintendent of Public Schools: JOSEPH SPALTI For Judge Supreme Court (Division No. One:) TYRRELL WILLIAMS For Jndge Supreme Coart (Division No. One): GEORGE E, BOWLING For Representative in Congress, Sixth Dis- trict: G, A, THEILMANN For Representative in Congress, Sixth Die- trict:* For Judge Supreme Court (Division No. One): KENNETH B. MARTIN For Representative in Congress, Sixth Dis- trict: CHARLES H. HARRISON For Judge Supreme Court (Division No. One): SIDNEY JOHNSON For Representative in Congress, Sixth Dis- trict: For State Senator, Sixteenth District: WILLIAM H. CASEY For Representative: JOHN L. GARRISON For Prestding Judge County Court: WILLIAM A. EADS For Ja‘ County Court, North District: J. E, DOWELL For Judge County Court, South Distriet: 1 A. PETTY For Judge Probate Court: For Clerk Circu't Court: . C. @. Weeks): For Clerk County Court: CHARLES W. ANDERSON For Recorder of Deeds: - OSCAR HARRIS For State Senator, Sixteenth District: BEN F, W1X For State Senator, Sixteenth District: + For State Senator, Sixteenth District: For State Senator, Sixteenth District: For Representative: C, H. HUTCHINS For Representative: For Representative: For Representative: Vor Presiding Judge County Court: EVERETT £. MORILLA For Presiding Judge County Court: For Presiding Judge County Court: For Presiding Judge County Court: For Juige County Court, North District: For Judge County.Court, North District: For Judge County Court, North District: For Tadge County Court, South District: __ J. M. McQOVERN For Judge Probate Court: LYMAN HENSLEY For Clerk Cireuit Court: For Clerk County Conrt (uncap:red term of| For Clerk County Court (Unexpired term of C. @. Weeks): - 2 For Judge County Court, South District: For Jadge Probate Court: - For Clerk Circuit Court: For Clerk County Court (noexpired term of C. G, Weeks): For Clerk County Court: ~ For Recorder of Deeds: JOSEPH A BORLAND = Vor Prosecating Attorney: _d_BUFORD BRYANT For Clerk County Court: For Reeorder of Deeds: For Prosecatirg Attorney: For Judge County Court, Sonth District: For Judge Probate Court: For Clerk Circuit Court: For Clerk County Court (unexpired term of C.G. Weeks): For Clerk County Coart: For Recorder of Deeds: For Judge County Court, North D.a.rict: For Judge Connty C_urt, S.uth Distric:: For Judge Probate Court: For Clerk Circuit Court: For Clerk County Court (Unexpired term of C. @. Weeks:) > For Clerk County Court: For Recorder of Deeds: