Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-02-26
THE TUNNEL COLLISION.

Postp0nement of the Railroad Com
MISSIONS Investfgation-The Rea-
sons for the Adjournment.
NEW YORK, Feb. 25.-The state railroad
commissioners met in the rooms of the
chamber of commerce at ten o'clock this
morning, for the purpose of investigating
the railroad collision in the Fourth avenue
tunnel on Friday last. They were dis
suaded from that purpose by representa-
tives of the railroads concerned, and post
poned the proposed investigation to Friday
morning of next week-meanwhile accom-
panying the railroad officials to inspect the
scene of the accident.
G. P. Clark, president of the New York,
New Haven and Hartford railroad, was the
spokesman for that corporation. He asked
for an adjournment of the investigation,
upon the grounds that the coroner was
now holding an inquest, and that an easier
and more thorough investigation by the
commissioners would be the result if the
commissioners walled until the inquest
was over. The coroner's jury would
learn all that could be learned about
the causes of the accident and the per-
sonal responsibility therefor; it would
Only ToWalu IOT Uuo COuu1SSlOu6Tb "
| make a scientific examination of the rail
| road plant at this point, it's appurtenances
| and equipment, and the system of opera
| ton employed by the companies. Such
an examination the New York, New Ha-
ven and Hartford company we're exceed
| ingly anxious to have the commissioners
make. The company believed that they
had the best of everything in the tunnel;
but if they had not, they wished to know
it; and they confidently relied upon the
railroad commissioners to teach them what
ever they were as yet ignorant of.
| Frank LOOMS, general counsel of the
New York Central railroad, supported the
position taken by Mr.. Clark, and dwell
upon the inconvenience of two separate
bodies conducting at the same time an
investigation of the same matter, when
the same witnesses were required before
both bodies. He directed attention to the
fact that tho full stenographic report Of
the testimony before the coroner would be
| available for the commissioners, an0
would save them the trouble and time Of
| themselves examining the witnesses. The
counsel observed, incidentally. that he
had made fruitless effort to arrange with
Coroner Levy for joint investigation by
that official and the commissioners
ssAnd he refused!" remarked Mr.. Rogers
| LILO CudlTuldu Ol Gue COmulSS1Ou, LII q IOus
which was partly one of query and partly
of indignant exclamation. ''The commits
SON. he continued, "would have beer
very glad to sit with the coroner, had HI
permitted it."
1T cannot say he refused" rejoined Mr.
LOOMS; che was very busy; there was
complication of appointments, and the ar
rangement was not made.''
From time to time Lucius Tuttle, tn
general manager of the New York, New
Haven and Hartford railroad, put in
word in support of postponement, and Mr.
Schofeld, the assistant superintendent o
the same road, also spoke in support o
the application. Mr.. Rogers, chairman o
the commission, made slight resistance t.
the plea for adjournment, and then yield
ed. His colleagues concu1red in his action
The commission retired, consulted, an
fixed Friday week as the date for the in
vestigation. Then they went up to tn
Fourth avenue tunnel to look at the plac
where the accident occurred.