The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-10-26
Protection Of Life en- Railroads.

Protection Of Life On Railroads.
A very important bill has been brought for
ward in tile House of Representatives by Mr..
Cook, the sember from Williamson, the OBJ
iect OF which is to prevent, as far as practice
hIe the occurrence Of accidents on the Rail
roads of this State, resulting in death or MAIN
ing for life. and the destruction Of property.
This bill, after a somewhat animated discus
sion, and having been amended in several par
ticulars, passed in the House a second time on
Monday last. The following is q brief synop-
sis Of the leading provisions of tho bill
The lst section provides that it shall be the
duty Of the engine driver, or other person hav-
ing charge Of the running of locomotive or
train upon any railroad in this State, to sound
or blow the whistle and put down the breaks
when approaching any turnpike or other pub
JIG road, or any street crossed by such railroad,
in time to give ample notice Of the approach
Of the train to any person who may be travel
ing or passing upon such road or street.
The "a section declares that if the person
having charge of train shall fail to discharge
his duty as prescribed in the lst section of the
act, he shall be deemed guilty Of a misdemean-
or, aud upon conviction by Circuit or Crimi-
nal Court, shall be fined not less than $50 nor
more than S 900, and imprisoned not less than
one nor more than twelve months.
Tie 81 section declares that the failure or
omission Of the person having charge Of the
train to discharge his duty, shall constitutesa
misdemeanor on the part of the Company EN-
ploying him, and upon conviction the Company
shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than
$500
The ith section declares that if any person
shall be killed by accident or collision happen
ing in consequence Of the neglect of the per-
son having charge Of the train to perform his
duty, such person shall be deemed guilty of
felony, and upon conviction, shall be confined
in the Penitentiary not less than three nor
more than twenty-pne years.
The 9Th section declares that if any person
shall be wounded or crippled by an accideutor
collision caused by the person having charge
of the train failing to perform his duty, such
person shall be deemed guilty of felony, and
upon conviction, shall be confined in the Peni-
Tertiary not less than one nor more than three
years.
The 9th section declares that Railroad Com
panes shall be responsible for all damages to
persons or property resulting from accidents
on their respective roads.
The 18th section provides that notice of the
approach Of trains to crossings or to depots in
cities, shall be given by sounding the whistle
when within half a mile, and continuing to
sound tho whistle until they have passed the
crossing or arrived at the depot
The 6th section provides that when train
is leaving or entering city or town, it shall
do 50 at a speed not exceeding seven miles per
hour.
The penalties prescribed for a violation Of
The provisions Of the bin are very severe. The
effect which, in the event it becomes law,
it will exert upon the Management and pros
pcrity OF the railroads oI our State, impera-
lively demands that it should be subjected to
most searching and rigid scrutiny before il is
finally acted upon by the Legislature. In
framing law of the character it is proposed
to euact by the bill now before the House,
great care should be exercised to mete out
equal and exact justice to all, " so that, in
protecting one class, injustice may not be done
another. Every necessary practicable protec-
ton should be thrown around the citizen to
guard him against accidents, and rocklessness
on the part OF railroad employees, endangering
life or resulting in its destruction, or of the
needless destruction Of property, should very
properly be visited with severe punishment.
Bat what is to be the effect of the law it is
proposed to enact by Mr.. Cooks bill Are not
It's provisions too stringent upon Railroad Com
panies and their employees9 And would it
not have the effect of causing competent and
reliable engineers to refuse employment on the
railroads in this State, with the Penitentiary
gaping wide open, as it were, at every "cross-
ing2" Il is the interest of Railroad Compa- /
MES to guard, As far as human foresight can I
guard, against accidents of any and every /
kind-aud interest il powerful main-sPriEg. |