TRAIN-DISPATCHING OFFICES HEARINGS BEFORE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COMMITTEE ON SEVENTY-FIFTH CONGRESS THIRD SESSION ON H. R. 4358 A BILL TO LIMIT THE HOURS OF SERVICE OF TRAIN DIS- 24-HOUR PERIOD, TO ESTABLISH A 6-HOUR DAY FOR SUCH TRAIN DISPATCHERS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES HOURS OF SERVICE OF TRAIN DISPATCHERS FRIDAY, MAY 6, 1938 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, INTERSTATE AND FOREIGN COMMERCE, The subcommittee met at 10 a. m., Hon. Paul H. Maloney (chairman) presiding. Mr. MALONEY. The meeting will please come to order. The purpose of this meeting is for the consideration of H. R. 4358, a copy of which bill will be made a part of the record at this point. (H. R. 4358 is as follows:) [H. R. 4358, 75th Cong., 1st sess.] A BILL To limit the hours of service of train dispatchers employed by carriersengaged in interstate commerce to six hours in any twenty-four-hour period, to establish a six-hour day for such train dispatchers, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, DEFINITIONS SECTION 1. First: That the term "carrier" as used in this Act includes any carrier by railroad subject to the Interstate Commerce Act, and any receiver, trustee, or other individual or body, judicial or otherwise, when in the possession of the business of any such carrier: Provided, however, That the term "carrier" shall not include any street, interurban, or suburban electric railway unless such railway is operated as a part of a general steam-railroad system of transportation, but shall not exclude any part of the general steam-railroad system of transportation now or hereafter operated by any other motive power. Second: That the term "train dispatcher" includes every person in the service of a carrier performing the duties of a trick train dispatcher, relief train dispatcher, extra train dispatcher, chief train dispatcher, assistant chief train dispatcher, night chief train dispatcher, and every other person performing services defined as those of a train dispatcher in the orders of the Interstate Commerce Commission now in effect or as the same may be amended or interpreted by orders hereafter entered by the said Commission, pursuant to the authority which is hereby conferred upon it to enter orders amending or interpreting such existing orders. PURPOSES SEC. 2. That inasmuch as all train dispatchers, as defined herein, supervise or are primarily responsible for the movement of trains by train orders and otherwise on the railroad lines of carriers engaged in interstate commerce, and inasmuch as the fatigue of such train dispatchers due to the long hours of service for which they are at present employed imperils the safety of the agencies and persons engaged in the performance of such commerce and of the passengers and freight transported therein, this statute is enacted as a regulation of interstate commerce and for the purpose of eliminating such existing perils to persons and property by limiting the hours of service and the day's work of all train dispatchers as defined herein. SEC. 3. That it shall be unlawful for any carrier, its officers, or agents to require or permit any train dispatcher to be or remain on duty for a longer period than six 1 |