New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-08
SAFETY FOR RAILROAD MEN
THE SENATE DISCUSSES AUTOMATIC
FREIGHT COUPLINGS AND BRAKES.
SENATOR CHANDLER SHOWS TIE INCONSISTENCY
OF TIE DEMOCRATS WHO OPPOSE p.

| SENATOR CHANDLER SHOWS TIE lNCONSlSTENCl
OF TIE DEMOCRATS WHO OPPOSE
| .-' THE ELL.
| Washington. Feb. THE Senate to-day resume.
consideration Of the substitute reported from the Com
mttee Interstate Commerce to promote the safety
Of employees and travellers upon railroads By com
polling carriers engaged In Interstate com
meroe TO equip their with automatic couplcrs and
continuous brakes. and their locomotives with driving
| wheel brakes.
Mr.. Culom. who was In charge OF II. said IN answer
to questions that there LOO 600 freight cam
In, tho country that there were forty different pat
terms OF automatic couplerS worked together and tina,
II the owners Of - cent OF the freight agreed
upon particular type Of couplers the Interstate Com
mcrce Commission would A. that as the one TO be
| used.
Mr.. Harris asked Mr.. Cullom whether the railroad
| companies were not adopting the automatic coupler
| rapidly rs their financial condition would enable
| them.
Mr.. Cullom said the railroad rrnpanlns nss'pi that
they were dnng the best they could: but yet not
onethird Of the freight provided with
coupers brakes.
Mr. Villas asked Mr. Cullom whether he knev of
any Instance where a rnroad company deferred pay
ing dividends in order to adopt to protect the
lives OF It's empl0y-s.
Mr. Cullom knew no Instance Of tho lind. The
trouble wss that railroad companies wcr- looking
NOR to finances than TO the protection OF the lives
and limbs Of their employees.
Mr. wolcott inquired whether the association Of
frcgltmen had not protested agnns, the adoption Of
the automatic couplers, and expressed a preference
for the link and pin.
Mr.. Cullom admitted that the frrleh,men wonld
prefer The link and Pin rather than have the variety
Of couplers that being used. II there
q uniform coupler established they would Of course
h. In favor OF II.
Mr.. Chandler snd the ELL had been favored In tho
platform Of tbs Democratic National CONVENTION but
he feared from The performances Of the last few
days In the Senate that the platform WINS In dang =
Of receiving sivous II not deadly wounds At the hands
Of those who ought TO H.. its fricrds. That platform
hnd denounced th" Republican party. and particularly
the Republican senate as II then, but MS 1t was
not to b.. for NOT tahIng action en- the House
bill TO protect the lives OF railroad employees lie
wo,Ild kc TO know whit the Democratic convention
really meant In that matter. and he asked Mr.. liar
RS II ne would explain H.
Mr. Hrris-I ON not able to answer definitely
the direct question Of the senator: but | shall say
to him that the time has never been. Is not now
and never will come when shall be- such devotec
to the orders of u National convention as he s-ens
to H.. (LaughierJ'
Mr.. Chandler said I've was glad to hear that
declaration Of Independence from the Senator from
Tennessee. But he was amazed nj the want OF
respect with which Democratic s'nators treated tn"
platform Of their party. Knowing the declaration
Of tho Democratic Convention The subject OF silver
and knowing the entraties OF the President elect,
only eleven Democratic Senator's could be mustered
yesterday TO vote for the repeal Of the Sherman act
And the next declaration o. the Democratic
Platform which marked Dr destruction was its
declaration In favor Of the legislation TO protect the
lives and limbs OF railroad employees.
Mr.. Chandler continued: :" believe that when the
next Congress meets n like disregard will be- paid to
he de- nratloa OF the DenlOcr,tiC National Convcn
ton. that measure Of ar' legislation Is uncon-
stitufional.'
Mr. wolcot In oppnsing the bill remarked that
the senator from NcwsIfampshire Mr. Chandler WIZ
the only man in the senate who could find political
argument In the bill.
Nr. Hunton sent 70 the clerks desk a telegram
lust received FIRM II. ). Ilalncs, president % tho
American Railway Association, stating that II would
cost $4,000 ocO to equip all freight with the
required sniety appliances.
Mr.. Hiscoek said he would support tho bill n the
Committee Interstate Commerce would specify the
coupler which should be adopted.
Mr.. CullOm replied TO that offer By saying THAT the
committee would d. nothing ~ rho hind. IT, pur-
pose had boon simply TO have a Uniform coupler
adopted.
Without action oil the bill the senate adjourned.