Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-03-14
Proree,ion for American Labsr

1
The bill which is now before congress
for the protection of railway employees is
one that ought to receive the support OF
every member who believes that human
life is more valuable than money, is the
| way the Indianapolis Sentinel begins an
exten led and excellent editorial. Its OBJ
| iect is the reasonable protection Of the
men in their work, and it is in line with
the safeguard legislation which has been
adopted in other countries and which will
certainly be adopted in this country
within few years. The interstate COM
merce Jurisdiction of congress gives it
the opportunity TO make the requirements
as to railroads. The provisions of the
bill apply TO methods of brakirg and
coupling.
AS to braking the bill provides. O.
that all locomotives shall be furnished
with power brakes for the driving wheels.
and this is required to be done by Jan. 1.
1895. Or the $4,000 locomotives in use
in the country about 1900 are already
supplied with these appliances. 1t next
provides that all freight cars shall be
provided with brake for each wheel and
for trsin>brake ai paratus that can be
worked from the locomotive All new
cars are to be furnished with these when
built and all old cars when sent to the
shops for repairs. After Jan. l. 1897.
any railroad engaged in interstate com.
merce may refuse to haul cars not thus
equipped, and after Jan. /, 1900, they
are not to be permitted to haul them. 1t
is Obvious that this change could be thus
gradually made without material incon>
venience to the roads. The importance
of it mag be judged from the fact that in
the year ending June 80, 1899, there were
$50 men killed, and 2.70S injured while
manipul Ating brakes on freight trains.
To this should be added numerous acci>
dents that might have been avoided if
trains could have been stopped more
quickly.
The ST cond and more important pro-
vision Of the bill refers to coupling It|
directs each railroad engaged in interstate
traffic 10 file with the interstate COM
merce commission before July /. 1898,
the form of coupler it prefers. If COM
panies owning 60 per cent. CT the freight
cars in use agree on coupler, or series
of cOuplers that will work together auto
mstically, the commission is to declare
that form or series adopted. After six
months from that time every new car is
TO be furnished with such cCuplers when
built, anG old cars when repaired. After
Jan. I. 1897, any road may refuse, and
after Jan /. 1860. DO road will tie per
mitted to haul cars not furnished. The
importance of this provision is shown
daily by reports of men killed or manned
while coupling cars. In the year ending
June 80. $50, the total number thus in
jured was 211, Of whom 800 were killed
outright. 1t would be a severe reflection
on the humanity and morality of the whole
country if such q fruitful source CT Jury
to life and limb were permitted to con
tinue when there is q simple and reasona-
be way OF ending it.
The bill also provides that an employe
continuing in the service of company
after he has knowledge that the company
has failed to equip its cars properly shall
not constitute contributory negligence.