The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-20
REAR-END COLLISIONS
No Excuse for Them if the Stand
ard Rules Are Followed.
Vice President Oscar Murray, of the Big
Four, Says He Has No Inten-
ti0n of Resigning.

Said F. G. Darlington. superintendent of
the Indianapolis division of the Pennsyl-
venIs lines: There are now too many
rear-end collisions. a class OF accidents for
which there Is no excuse. For two years
some of the ablsst talent among the rail
road men of the country were engaged In
preparing a code of rules which should be
the standard of all roads. and after a care
full examination of this code fully two
thirds of the roads adopted them. and IT
trains are run as this code provides a rear
end collision would be almost an impossi-
bility." He was sorry to say that a number
of roads in the State had not yet adopted
the standard rules. Quite recently he was
obliged TO call the attention OF the super
intendent of q road of whose track the
Pennsylvania Company uses q portion.'to
the carelessness of it's train employees in
protecting their trains at night, as but q
night or two before O Pennsylvania train
came near running into the rear of the CON-
pany's train on the track over which the
Pennsylvania trains run. Inquiry de-
veloDed the fact that the road did not use
the standard rules in movement of trains.
Horace Wilson, when living and superln-
tenuent of the Indiana. Bloomington ~
Western. discharged two of what he con-
sidered his best train crewsfor Benign fault
for q rear-end collisIon. he taking the posi-
tion during his railroad experience that
there was no excuse for an accident OF this
character. Under the standard code OF
rules not only IS the rear end or q train
protected with proper signals. but the
brakeman or trainman who goes back to
flag a following train Is provided with sig
mails In the way of lanterns. torpedoes and
other appliances. which. 1t used properly.
---I1 - A4~141 - NDa IN nhnrn0 ~
o following train. That some Legislation
Is needed to force railroad companies to
utilize all plans for the better protection of
trains, which the standard rules prescribe.
Is very apparent.
The Blue Book to- Be Used in Pennsylvania.
The brUtherhoods of railroad men
of the State of Pennsylvania have sue
decided in organizing What they call the
State Branch of Steam Railroad Mems
Union. Its object being to influence legisla-
tlon in favor of railway employees. There
are seven important railroad mems fra
ternities represented. BENJAMIN +. Chaplin,
of Newark. n. j., Is supreme president Of
the national organization. as the movement
Is taking a national character. President
ChapIn addressed the men in Harrisburg.
on Sunday and. in the course of his re-
u ohiu II suih VI ~ BkOob COh-
solidation scheme of all the brOtherhoods
was silly and without the slightest founda-
tion in fact. He said no strike was con-
templated in the movement. bat that it
really had for it's purpose the OoinR away
with strikes. He declared the object of the
union 10 be the securing of legislation
favorable TO railroad employees b. support
ing candidates for Congress and the Legis-
lature favorable totbeIr interests; to take
an active part IN politics irrespective of
party lines. He said that the union COM
prIses national and State boards. which
send out circulars to congressional and
legislative candidates requesting written
answers az TO their attitude ON
questions relating to railway employees.
No verbal promises arc taken. Cam
dldates must sign or refuse TO sign. and
these answers are then communicated TO
the various subordinate lodges. The ma
tlonal board recommends the election OF
rejection or certain candidates. A blue
book. he says. is placed In the hands of
every railroad man. containing a record OF
all mentors of the Legislature on railway
legislation. The tenor of the remarks sof
Supreme President ChRpln makes il evil
dent that the low ard federation of
the railway brOtherhOods Is not popular In
Pennsylvania. The blue book to which
he slIudes was first used in Indiana. tut
the acts passed by the last Legislature of
this State show that it had little terror for
the lawmakers
M. Murray's Intentions.
Oscar Murray. vice president. in charge
of the freight-trafic department of the Big
Four lines. arrived IN the city last evening
from the Northwest, AMI will this morning.
in company with Assistant General Freight
Agent Ford Woods. go over the Peoria d
Eastern TO Peoria. thence to st. Louis. Mr..
Murray stated that he was much encour-
aged as regards the outlook for business.
Shippers were asking for cars. and he
thought that in q few Gays the Big Four
would be handling from $500 to 5. COO loaded
cars a day. which was very good average
work for the Big Four lines.
When asked If there was any truth in
the reports 10 the effect that he had re-
signed OF was about To resign TO take SER
vice with another system OF roads, he an
swereG: There is not the least ground for
such n report. i have not resigned. Mother
have L any intention of resIgnIng." AS
there IN a large number of shippers who
ferl that Mr.. Murray Is a very able freight
2ficial ami has done mach 10 bring about
more prompt movements OF freiGhts and IN
adjusting rates, they Will be- gratified To
read this statement.
Mr.. Murray Will to-day issue q circular
transferring Assistant General Freight
Agent Homer Frost from Anderson. Ind,
TO Louisville, and Assistant General
Freight Agent Buchanan from Cincinnati
10 Anderson, aboliShIng the position Of
assistant general freight agent at Cincin-
natl. General Freight AGENT White will
lock after the bnslnessin that territory.
Freight Rates Disturbed.
Through freight rates from Eastern sea-
board points TO points west of Chicago are in
avery precarious condition. They are being
cut in several directions. No sooner did the
500 line restore grain and tiour rates east
bound than 1t began cutting commodity
rates westbound. All merchandise sent
over that route is now being carried at
least D cents per one hundred pounds below
ssriff rates. The cut rates are not being
made openly. but the competitors of that
ajine say that they have ample proof TO sup
port their assertions as TO the action of the
500.