New-York tribune., 1890-05-29
DrScIssING RAILWAY MANAGEMENT.
STATE RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS IN NATIONAL
coyvExTIox-sTA OF ACCIDENTS.

STATE RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS IN NATIONAL
CoNvENTIoN-sTAT1sTICs OF ACCIDENTS
WASHINGTON Nav cs-A National convention of
railroad commissioners began its sessions TO-DAY l"
tho rooms of tbe Interstate Commerce Commission
The convention met in pursuance 10 resoiu''oh
adoned a, a meeting of state Railroad Commissioners
h,,1 IN This c,tv in March, 1880. The Railroad COM
missionccs from all the States, the state olhcers
charged with the supervision cf RAILROADS vi ld'o'"
interests and the executive comml'tee ol '"c
American Railway Accounting Officers, were lnVltc'l
and MANY of them present The SUBJECTS whioi
the convention been called to consider are raroaa
legislation, uniformity III IdiI"a! "O'o"'''''e '''
construction, etc
Judre Cooley chairman of the Interstate CONNER &c
Commission. as the presiding officer OF the conNeh
ton held last year. called the convention u oruer
and made q brief Opening address lie SPOKE OF t'ic
importance of these conferences and OF the Naluapc
service they could render the country IN sueec'tnlE
uniformity in railroad legislation and in railway rcgu-
latons. He dwelt upon the dihculues when hN III
the way of the proper regulation Of railways ana
said that these difficulties much greater IN ms
country than in Europe. owing to the pccuhar con
dtons which existed here. For example, inc rdlI
road mileage in the United states was nearly nail
Of that which existed in the entire world. AGAIN
Governmental and state supervision were not Is SrIc'
here as in Europe.
Al tbe close of Judge Cooey's remarks pcrma
rent organization was effected. by the election Of Judge
Cooley as chairman and f. A. Moseley as secretary
4 committee on the order o. business was appointed
A rcport OF the committee legislation appointed al
the last meeting was then read. The report stated that
there were two causes for the lack of uniformity In
railway legislation in this country The first cause
was the want Of harmony between the legislation OF
Congress and that Of the state Legislatures. and the
second was the want Of harmony In the legislation
Of the different states The report recommended that
the main features of the Interstate Commerce law DC
made a part Of the laws Of the different states II
was also urged that laws be enacted by Congress Sc
curing uniformity in the various details OF railroad
continent and management, with view to thc
creaer safety and comfort of employees and the pubic
The day's session was consumed In discussing a
series of resolutions cmbodync the views expressed III
mi. rpDort During the session. statement conpllr0
by the statistcian OF the interstate CphlictoD
mie sion submitted, showing the number OF person
killed and injured in railway accidents In thc N
states during the year ended June 80. 1N.". I'M,
statement shows that in tina, time 5.-23 person,
972 were employees. $40 were pasScnSers ana 5,oII
were other pers5nS.' OF the injured 2oU.7 @ wcrc
employees. 2146 were passengers. and 4l3' were
other persons n .,o
United states carried 472l7l 343 passengers duFms W
year covered by this statement. from when u 'PPTdT
that one passenger in every 1.123l33 was hit"
and one passenger In every 22O.O-i was nluftt fV'
thc wear less the rate Of casually IN Ene!"hu 10
passengers from railway accidents was one passenger
in 942 1886 killed and ono passenger IN %, o. ~
noted that passenger mileage for given nunheI ol
tickets sold much greater in the United states td
I'm England, a fact which mtlCates some" llAt we
severity Of judgment upon railway management III Nv
The number Of railway employees in the United states
Is given as sO4,'3o