The Indianapolis journal., 1893-02-12
CAR C0UPLERS AND BRAKES
Railways Must BE Equipped with Safe
ty Appliances Before Jan. l. 1898.
Measure of Interest TO Employees and Travellers
Passed by the Senate-Reform in the Pen
sion Laws Demanded by q Southerner.
MUST ADOPT sAFH. APPLIANCES.
Automatic Coupler and Continuous Brak
Bill Passed by the Senate.

Automatic Coupler and Continuous Brake
Bill Passed by the Senate.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 1.-THE bill to pro-
mote the safety of employees and travellers
upon railroads by compelling railroad
companies to equip their cars with anto-
matte couplers and continuous brakes.
and their locomotives with drIving-wheei
brakes. was finally disposed of In the Sem
ate to-day. The substitute for the
House bill of last session was
agreed to and the bill passed-yeas. 80;
days. 10 The only other important piece
of legislation done " as the agreeing 70 the
conference report on the fortiheations Dill,
and making the Niacaragus canal IN
finished business The automatic coupler
bill now goes back to the House. The neg
alive votes were given by Messrs. Blodgett,
Brce. Daniel, George, German. Harris
Morgan. Sawyer, Stewart and Vance. Fol-
lowing is the text of the bill as passed:
That from and after the Ist day Of January.
rier engaged In interstate commerce by railroad
to use on its line any locomotive engine in NOV
Ing Interstate traftce not equipped with a power
driving-wheel brake aud appliances for operat-
ing the train brakes system. or to run any train
In such traffic after said date that has not a
sufficient number of cars In 1t so equipped with
power or train brakes that the engineer. or the
locomotive drawing such train. can control its
speed without requiring brakeinen 10 use the
common hand brake for that purpose.
Sec. 2. That on and after the 1st day or Jan
uary, 1898, it shall be unlawful for any such
or used on its line any car used in moving inter-
state traffic not equipped with couplers coupling
automatically by impact. and which can be pn-
coupled without the necessity OF men going be-
tween the ends OF the cars.
Sec. g. That when any person, firm, company
or corporation engaged IN Interstate commerce
hxx. nlrnnd do ohan In har N
its cars so as TO comply with the provisions or
Section / Of this act, it may lawfully refuse to
pers any cars not equipped suilicientiy, in az
eordance with the first section OF this act with
such power or train brakes as will work and
readily Interchange with the brakes In use on Its
own ears, as required by this act
Sec 4. That from and after the first day OF
July, 1898, until otherwise ordered by the Inter-
state-cOmmerce Commission, IL shall he unlaw-
ful for any railroad company 10 use any car In
interstate commerce that Is not provided With
secure grab-irOns or handhods on the ends and
sides OF each car for greater security to men In
coupling and uncoupling cars.
Sec. 5. That within ninety days from the
passage of this act the American Railway Asso-
ciatiOn is authorized hereby to designate to the
Interstate commerce Commission the standard
height Of drawbars for freight cars. measured
perpendicular from the level of the tops of the
rails to the centers of the drawbars for each of
the several gauges OF railroads IN use in the
ton from such standard height TO be allowed be-
tween the drawbars OF empty and loaded
cars. Upon their determination being certified
10 the Interstate-cOmmerce Commission said
commission shall at once give notice OF the
standard fixed upon to all common carriers,
owners or lessees engaged in Interstate COM
merce in the United States, by such means as the
commission may deem proper, bat should said
association fail TO determine o standard as above
provided 1t shall be the duty Of the Interstate
commerce Commission TO do so before July l.,
1894. and imme ediately TO give notice thereof as
aforesaid, and after July i, 1895, no cars, either
loaded or unloaded. shall be used In interstate
traffic which DO not comply with the standard
above provided Tor.
Sec. o. That any such common carrier using
any locomotive engine, running a train, or haul
Ing or permitting To he hauled or used on Its line
any ears In violation OF any OF the provisions of
this act, shall be liable to penalty of 800 for
each and every such violation, to he recovered In
suit OF suits TO be brought by the United States
district attorney, in the district of the United
States court having jurisdiction in the locality
where such violation shall have been committed,
and 1t shall be the duty OF such district
attorney to bring such suits upon duly
verified information being lodged with him Of
such violation having occurred, and 1t shall as0
be the duty OF the Interstate commerce Commis-
sion 10 lodge with the proper district attorneys
information OF any such violations as may come
to its knowledge; provided than nothing In the
act contained shall apply to fourwheeled cars
or to locomotives used in handling such trains.
Sec. z. That the Interstate-commerce Commits
sion may, from time to time upon full hearing
and for good cause, extend the period within
which any common carrier shall comply with
the provisions of this act
Sec. 8. That any OF the employees OF any such
common carrier who may be injured by any To-
eomotIve, or train in use contrary to the pro-
visions of this act, shall not be deemed thereby
10 have assumed the risk thereby OccasiOned, al
though continuing in the employment or such
carrier after the unlawful of such loco
motive. car or train had been brought to his
knowledge.
A conference on the dissgreeing votes was
asked. and Messrs Cullom. Wilson and Har.
rs were appointed oonferrees onthe part OF
the Senate.