The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-18
COL. HAINRS' DRESS
Before the American Railway Asso-
ciation on Safety Appliances.

Before the American Railway Asso-
citation on Safety Appliances.
The MORNING News has received a COPY
Of the address Of Col. Il. S. Haines, presi-
dent OF the American Railway Association,
formerly the general time convention, be-
fore the association in New York last week.
The address deals principally with compul-
sorry legislation in reference to safety aDpli-
ances. particularly freight car couplerS.
Col. Haines t-kes the position that whats
ever has been accomplished in safety
couplers has been the work Of the railroad
companies; that it has been accomplished as
rapidly as the state of the art would permit,
and that their organized action through the
American Railway Association has rendered
unnecessary compulsory legislation.
Col Haines points to statistics showing
the dangers of the hazardous branch OF
railroad service in which yardmen and
hrakemen are engaged. He traces the foun-
datlon on which compulsory legislation is de-
mauded to this: That, in coupling cars,
railroad employees are exposed to dangers
from which their employers can protect
them, but will not
he then goes on with a history of the
coupler question. The first notice that was
taken of it was by the Master Car Builders
Association In 1866. since then the question
has been widely discussed, and has led not
oaly to state legislation but to the elevation
or the question to national importance, by
recommendations contained in the Presi-
dents messages to congress- and by demands
on congress for compu sorry legislation.
The action of the state legislatures and
of the railroad commissions induced the
President to refer to this subject in his
message to congress of December, 1890, In
the following LANGUAGE: 1T may still bs
possible for this congress to inaugurate, by
suitable legislation. an amendment looking
TO uniformity and increased safety in
tine use II coupiers and brakes upon freight
trains engaged in interstate commerce.
Inc chlel dl4nculIy in the way is TO secure
agreement as to the best appliances,
simplicity, effectiveness and cost being
considered. This difficulty will only yield
to legislation which should be based upon
full inquiry and impartial tests. The pur
pose should be to secure the cooperation of
all well-dlsposed managers and owners;
but the fearful fact that every years delay
involves the sacrifice of 1000 lives and the
manning Of 20 600 young men should plead
both with congress aud the managers agaiusE
any needless delay"
The figures in the interstate commerce
commissions reports show that in 1890, 3G9
people we're killed and 7,483 we're injured
in coupling cars. The railroads had in the
meantime been doing all that is possible in
the way of adopting safety devices.
Col Haines fears that congress will act
without sufficient knowledge as to what has
been done and without a proper apprecia-
ton OF the unfavorable effect which injudi-
cious legislation will have upon the very
cause In which the railroads are interested
equally with the employees who are to be
protected. This will undoubtedly be the
case, he says, if the principles should pre-
vail which are embodied IN some of the nu-
merous bills now under consideration by
congressional committees.