Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1915 — Full Crew Law Does Not Result in Fewer Injuries. [ARTICLE]

Full Crew Law Does Not Result in Fewer Injuries.

Statistics compiled by the interstate commerce commission in the recent investigation of the “full crew” law, which the railroads are advocating be declared illegal In many states, show that more persons were killed after the law was enacted than for the corresponding length of time before 4t was a law in Pennsylvania. For the three year period to June 30. 1911— the Pennsylvania full crew law became effective July 19 —the number of employes and passengers killed in the U. S. was 10,186. For three years since the full craw law became effective the list of the killed totaled 10,372—an increase. The railroad officials claim that the extra men on trains do not prevent casualties hut merely add to the number of men who are subject to the risks of railroad service. An investigation fails to reveal an instance where an accident could have been prevented by an extra man, the officials declare. It is also stated that in states where the extra crew law is in force that the extra freight brakeman seldom rides in the middle of the train where trainmen assert he is needed to insure safe operation. *