Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-17

Tie horrible disaster on the Hudson River
Railroad last Friday, by which eight persons
were burned to death and number of others more
or iess Injured has again aroused public attention
to the danger of heating cars with stoves. Fright
full exam pies OF this DANGER in the shape OF burned
and Charred bodies OF victims, have on several
prior occasions stirred the press ana people to de-
mand Of the railroad companies q safer system of
heating their cars: but the agitation has each
time ceased almost with the burial OF the victims
OF these disasters, and the railroad companies have
continued TO use the cheap and dang ofous method
OF heating The superintendent OF the United
States railway mail service have been hammerlng
away at this subject for several years. They have
held conferences with railroad managers and SIs
gested changes. but nothing has been done. The
agents OF the mail service the railroads travel
Ing constantly in cars alled With tnaammable ma
tcTial are peculiarly exposed. III one case OF an
accident on the railroad, where all Others on the
train escaped, the mail agents were literally
roasted alive by the upSettDg Of the store in their
car. This prompted the superintendent to inter-
est themselves in u REFORM but it is evident that
the railroad managers do not intend 80 pay any
attention 20 this source OF complaint. Nor will
they To the present agitation unless Ii Is persisted
in- The strong hand of legiSlatiOn might be en-
ployed effectively in this matter. The cars could,
In all probability, be heated by steam from the
engine, and kept at an even temperature IL VIII
not be difficult to devise plan that viii be free
from the danger OF the present system.
The New York and Pennsylvania railroad COM
panicS have agreed to plan for the termination
of the OF rates. This plan cOntemplates the
appointment OF an advisory committee, who shall
consult with the presidents OF the trunk lines with
the view OF harmOnizng and uniting them upon
some schedule Of rates for freight But an OBJ
stacle To the success OF this scheme already looms
up, and It assumes the mammoth proportions of
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. 1t is authOritA
lively announced that President Garrett VIII not
recognize any authority of the committee 70 fix
Rates or determine pending questions. He viii re-
gard il simply advisory. its name implies,
and win maintain his right TO accept reject its
suggestions, as he may fit. 1t IS intmated that
he VIII not assent to the proposition that all the
trunk lines should adopt the rates for freight
from western points to the 5eabOard, regardless OF
the ieagth OF each In other words, he viii insist
that TIE rates shall be governed by the number OF
miles The road must carry the freight The Balti
more american declares very cmphatically that
the 'war' has not injured Baltimore or the .. & o.
road.
Next TO having It's cashier run away with
all its assets or let n burglar break in and
steal its money, about the worst thing that
can happen to tie shareholders and creditors OF
bank i, to have the institution get into the hands
OF a receiver. The statistics OF twenty-one failing
banks in New YORK show that the expenses OF the
receivers in paying i000,G0 over tNepoSitorS and
other creditors amounted to about 81, 100000 or %
per cent OF all the funds coming into their hands.
These were all local banks, doing business under
the laws Of the state of New York. it is only fair
70 state The national banking law, we believe,
prevents any such wholesale robbery as this; but
even under It's more stringent provisions the re-
Cefvers of a defunct Institution understood to
very frequently turn their attention to the making
OF snug life berth for themselves Father than 10
winding up its affairs.
The District commit tee of the House IS pushing
rs work With energy, and il is to be hoped it viii
succeed In securin. action from Congress upon the
measures it has blocked out; particularly with
those IN regard to additional water supply, and
the improvement OF tbs Potomac flats. There
Seems to be no reason why either OF these meas
ures should fail. unless through conflict of plans
and Interests. The water bin introduced Is in har-
mony with the Views OF all the engineering all-
thoritics. and therefore should get through with
out serious opposition. The bill for the Improve
ment of the flats presents also plain, practical
plan for the execution of the work by government,
sander the superintendent of its engineer OFF,
GERS, and affords no chance for Iobbers, specula-
tors, or land-grabbers to operate In the matter.