The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-05-10
Railroad Accidents and their Remedy.


Coupled with the universal outburst Of indig-
nation with which the intelligence of the fright
full accident of last Friday on the New Haven
Railroad has been received, there has been
very general expression of desire for some
new legislation to prevent the occurrence OF
such catastrophies hereafter. Can any such
Legislation accomplish its object?
Experience has fully demonstrated the i'm
practicability of enforcing the. criminal laws
already on the statute books fer the punishment
Of carelessness on the part of common carriers
of passengers. Such laws are almost dead
letter. When accidents first happen the feeling
against the conductor engineer, superintendent,
directors, or whomsoever may be the guilty
parties is strong, and violent and furious
threats against them are often made. But by
the time they are brought to trial-in the few
instances where they are pursued even to
that xtent-circumstances are found to have
changed, witnesses are scattered, conflicting
testimony can almost always be obtained, and
the very friends of the slaughtered victims have
come to feel. with the lapse of time, that to
punish the offenders, however guilty, will afford
but.qoor consolation to their own iacerated feel
ings If we cannot enforce the criminal laws
already in existence it seems absurd to enact
more stringent ones.
What, then can be done?
We know Of but one remedy, and that we be-
lieve, would be efectuaL 1t is to pass law
that railroed companies shall pay fixed speci-
fc sum say three thousand dollars, for every
life which they shall destroy. and lees sum.
also ascertained and declared by statute, for
every limb which they shall break, where no
fatal result ensnes-these sums to be paid to
the heirs of the deceased on the simple proof
of the killing or the fracturing Of limb or
limbs, without regard to the cause Of the acct
dent or the esdpability Of the parties. Other
and minor injuries might, perhaps, be left to be
judged Of by jnries, and governed by the law as
it now stands.
Railroad directors and managers are just as
good as other memo worse and no better.
The safest thing to trust in them, as in other
men. is their selfinterest; and it is important
to make that interest in the safety Of the lives
of their passengers as large as possible. They
build and manage their roads for the sake of
the profit. Let the law say to them-f you
wish to make money make your road SAFE
otherwise you shall smart for it-smart with.
out any doubt or uncertainty about it, and
smart where you will feel it most-through your
pockets.
The result would be that instead of reckless,
daredevil, dissipated, or stupid men, in most
important positions, we should see none en-
ployed but those possessing the most ample and
perfect qualifications. The companies would
have such an immense stake in the safety of
their passengers. that no practicable measures
would be left unemployed to secure it.
Now and then the railroads would have to
pay for life where no blame could be attributed
to them; but this would be very small evil
compared to the wholesale slaughters which
now spread a feeling of horror throughout the
land.
1t has been suggested that Congress might
legislate on the subject benefcially We can
look with no confidence to that quarter. Let
New York pass the right kind Of law protecting
passengers by railroad on its territory and her
good example would probably soon be followed
by other States.
IMPORTANT DECIsIoN-PENsIOSs TO WIDOWS
very important decision has recently been
made by Governor McClelland, the Secretary
of the Interior. by which a saving to the gov
eminent will probably be effected of nearly a
million Of dollars The points Of the case are.
briefly. as follows -
By the act of February 8, 1853, it was enact
ed that " the widows Of all officers,n &C.. of
the Revolution, who were married subsequent
to January, 1900, shall be entitled to pensions
lin the same manner as those who were mar
ried before that date"
1t was contended by the claim agents that
this statute merely operated as repeal of that