Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-02
THURSDAY. -. .....~AUGUST 2, 1888.
Rnilroa1l Laws.

whist the country IS waiting for the iei'
t.rs Of accordance Of Messrs. CLEyELASD ana
TuugvAS we in Virginia caupot do better
than 10 on with the good work oil educating
the public mind up 10 The point OF dcinsnd-
irg laws for the prevention OF railroad acc'-
dents and for the punishment not simply OF
railroad officials or employees, but ot the rsi'-
road companies themselves. II would be
difficult to empanel jury that would pun
ish an over-worked and bfain-isgged eng'-
neer for what some persons would be sure
10 look upon Is an unavoidable accident On
the other hand iuries are almost always
ready 10 award damages against rairoSd
company itself for inlicting corporal injury
upon any person-even it, own employees
Speaking Of the proposition to add pecu-
MARY punishment 70 corporal IN the cases oil
persons responsible for preventaole rnioid
accidents. General LEES letter in the DIS
match OF Yesterday viii recall 70 the minds
Of many that the slsve-ownefs OF the so'tn
were either trutbiully or cruelty charged 10y
some pcOTle about the time General LIE
wrote that letter with sending their sons TO
the war voluntarily and cheerfuliy but WIN
holding their slaves. one reason oil course
was that they did not desire their slaves 10
he piaced upon an equality with their sons.
II was also said that men claimed heavy pay
for furnishing slaves to work on iortihca'
tons who never thought once OF how thenr
sons rlves nigh, be saved by those FORTH
cations.
We do not know how much truth there
WAS I'm these charges; but we do know that
there is snch n love Of money and property
implanted in the breasts Of a large proper
ton OF men as would cause them to DO all
that hay in their power TO prevent rauroau
accidents II they knew they were to suher IN
pocket because Of those accidents. What
ever else may he done, let Us add to The
pensIt,sss In such cases heavy fines to 20 TO
The actual sufferers or to their widows ana
children. There can be no harm in trying a
new plan.
Tue Indsr. AppearS leader Of yesterday Is
devoted to the letter Of our correspondent
Xxx which appeared in the Dispatch OF
Tuesday. The following is an extract from
tina; leader:
1--WE fully agree with all thst this CORE
sp0ntent saws in this regard; only We would
20 several steps further. We would nave
three Taiiroad commissioners, instead OF one
and we would have this commission and us
powers, authority, aud functions modeHeu
upon those Of the Massachusetts, Railway
Commission, which not only is charged with
The inspection of the roads OF that state, bul
whose duty Is 10 notify the respective COM
Y,aries of rcpaiTs necessary TO be made aud
compel BIZ process OF law II need De-
obedience 10 It's directions. Such cOtnus-
sion with its proper complement OF CLERKS
and other employees would Involve, OF course
considerable outlay OF money, muGh more
than is now appropriated for The Railroad
Commissioner Of Virginia and his one ciefh'
but. ~ the Dispdfctfs correspondent loicl'
blv observes. 10 this day. when such multi
tudes al people are travelling on the railroads
and these roads are stretching their IRON
arms into every noighborbood In the state
M narvimonio,is spirit should be allowed u
hamper and cripple that arm OF The govern
ment whose duty il is 20 see that everything
Is done and all precautions are taken 10 pro
teet the lives and insure the safety OF lh'
travelling public' The inde1- Appeal vii
not cease TO labor to the best OF IT'S aOilltl
FOR the creation OF railway commission WIZ
ADEQUATE ipONBIs anu lhutttuhSs ehu 1" so
work We hope 10 have the invaluable coOpe
ration Of the whole press OF the state"
What we have said as to the disposition
OF persons and corporations TO value money
too highly applies TO States. Think oil th'
dreadful calamity which occurred few
weeks ago al the "Fat Nancy" treste-th'
iu,elerable suflerings and anguish OF TN
wounded and the dying; the horrible death
that were there the portion OF so many per
sons; recolees that this wrong was done L
strangers hundreds Of miles from home ant
friends-snd then think Of the fact that th
State OF Virginia appropristes annually onl.
three thousand seven hundred dollars. w
believe the sum Is TO pay the salaries OF ID
Railroad Commissioner and his clerks AM
ali the other expenses OF the commission
Why, It Is shameful. Let such an accideu
happen 70 train-load OF Virginians on thei
way to Presbyterian Synod, or Baplis
General Association, or Methodist Annna
Conference. or Protestant Episcopal Coun
Gil, or any similar body OF any denomination
and there would soon be a law upon on
ststute.book which would do some good 9
least in protecting the lives of the innocer
and unsuspecting travellers who intrust
Us, gu our railroads, all that Is dear to then