Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-07-17
The Commissioners and the Railroads.

THE ATTEMPT TO BTAIN LEG1sLArIoS MAKING RAIL
ROADS RESPONSIBLE FOR LIVES LOST.
Commissioner EimOndS remarking TO a STAR re-
porter yesterday that the Commissioners had been
pretty severely criticised and held responsible with
the Baltimore and Ohio ,ilroad company for the
recent accident on that road at 1st and streets,
whereby the deaths Of several persons were caused
He called the reporters attention 10 the passage In
the Commissioners annual report for 1888 tp 12) in
which they ask Congress ''to consider the propriety
o. a5olisUng the C3mmon-law rule that still pre-
walls I'D this District. denying the right to recover
damages IN civil action for the death OF person
caused by the wrongful or negligent act OF another.
To allow damages in such Cases, With or without a
maximum fixed by statute, seems TO be the ten
dency of recent legislation, and Is believed TO be
now the law OF most OF the states" No action. MI.
EdmondS said. was taken By any one, notwita-
standing he urged 1t upon members Of Congress,
stating to them that the families OF poor men who
lose their lives the railroads running into this
city could enforce no claim against the railroad
company and had no remedy except by prosecut-
in- the railroad company for violation Of the ordi
nance imposing tine of 500 for running trains over
six miles an hour This. he urged, was no salts
faction ali injured parties and did not tend at
all TO put the railroad men the alert against IRE
quent accidents IN this District There should be
Specific or N axiInun damages fixed by Law in each
OF death occurring by railroad accident list
OF the deaths which have occurred In this District
from railroad accidents was also furnished the SEN
ate committee. with the copy OF a bill drawn up by
Commissioner EdmondS, and introduced by Sena-
tor Ingalls,: $50 provide for the recovery OF DAM
ages III the District OF Columbia for deaths occa-
stoned by negligence and for other purposes, (which
read twice and referred to the committee on
the District of Columbia. Nothing further was
done with this bill The Commissioners, on Feb
ruary 18th, 1894. addressed note to Hon. John
S Barbour, chairman OF committee for District OF
Columbi', H. r.. as follows. saying: 1.-The Commits
SiOners in their last annual report under the head
OF Civil action in OF DEATH" at pages 10 and
% asked Congress consider the prOprIety OF abOl-
tShing the cOmmon-aw rule still prevailing in the
District that denies the right to recover damages
in civil suit Tor the death OF person caused by
the wrongful act or negligence or another, so to
as5milate the law OF the District to that enacted
b.. most OF the states The Commissioners now
have TIL hon To submit a bill. ana II II meet your
approval. ask that 1t be Introduced and favOrably
considered by your committee and by Congress-"
No RESPONSE was made To this note. Under date OF
May p, 1884. senator MOrrill sent note to the
Commissioners, asking as TO the number OF hOm-
Cidc> that have occurred upon the two steam rail-
roals In this city during the pIst dozen years. The
mmiSS.OnerS repli ID that tney had CAUSED to be
examined the records Of the coroner and health
and police departments. and had invited reports
from the officials OF those rlilrO11 companies. The
reports thus obtained showed HAT the number OF
hOmicdeS caused 10y The Ii. & o. X. K, in the Dis
seven were in the city and ten in the county: that
the number caused by the b. & p. X. K. since No
yember IL 1873. was twenty-siX, OF which twenty
o!.e Were IN the city and live in the county. Be-
sides these there wer- on tne b. d y. road thirty
ei-ht minor accidents, twenI y-Seven in The city,
one in the county, and ten not located eight OF
which caused injury TO the person o. such
minor accidents there were On the B. l. /. road
srventySiX seventy In the city. two in the county,
and four not loca ed, OF which fifteen caused in
jury TO the person The Commas toner's, Mr.. Ed
mUIto said. mad been striving obtain such legiS-
more careful, but all their efforts so lar had been
defeated