Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-28

the year ending JuaetaO. 1893. there was
one passenger Killed Tor nearly 1000, 900 car
rled, and for the yest ending June 30, 1894,
one passenger was kHledtfor only about 1900
600 carried. Thtro were for each passenger
injured nearly 200, 900 carried. Among the
employees during the year ending June 30,
1893. there was one killed to three hundred
and twenty employsde and for the year end
ing June 30. 1894, one killed to 42S
emplGyed; From reports 50 far re.
the most favorable results OF improved
train equipment. as IRE average Ct employees
killed will be about one in 600.
THE significant fact connected with the
figures | have given Isl that the course OF
the general business depression prevailing
at the close of 1894, and beginning OF 1895
Is well and clearly defined in the number
Of accidents. 1t may be said that one Of
the few goods things which CONS from hard
times is found in the reduced number Of
accidents among passengers and railway
employees. Last year nearly 100, 900 employees
we're discharged from the railroads Of the
country, and, OF course, this permitted a
better average to be recorded, as there were
Just as many less employees to run the risks.
But while there we're reductions in the
number of passengers and employees acct
dents in the United States, the accidents
among other persons were more numerous.
Conjectures might have 1t that the hard
times have been prolific Of suicides, but the
facts, supported by figures, point rather to
the increase in grade crossings and conse-
quent additional chances for accidents.
A important question for our Legislators
to consider is, Are the penalties which a
company may suffer heavy enough? The loss
of property in a collision is not an important
loss for a great corporation. The conviction
of an engineer, conductor or gateman on a
charge of manslaughter can exercise very
little restraining influence upon the COM
pany that employs him. But If it were
possible to collect through the courts large
sum in damages for the lives that are
lost, the companies would be much more
careful, both in the supervision of their en-
ployes and in the establishment of overhead
or underground crossings and other safe
guards.
PROPOSED LEGISLATION.
For the lives sacrificed in the Jersey City
accident the relatives of the victims can
recover from the company at the most about
$50, 900, or So 900 for each life. II this limit,
which is imposed by the laws in most of the
states, were removed, such terrible slaughter
as this would be so expensive to a company
that the establishment of approved safe
guards would not be neglected, and every
possible effort to insure the efficiency of
train officers and the preservation of lives
would be made. Under present conditions a
railroad commonly suffers a smaller less in
money when a person is killed than when one
is crippled.
"Over in Connecticut they have taken the
bit in the mouth, so to speak, in the matter
Of abolishing grade crossings, and radical
measures are looked for during the coming
year. A prominent United States senator is
responsible for the movement, l believe, and
although he represents large railroad inter-
ests, his ideas are about the best so far ad-
vanced looking to the abolition Of the evil.
His idea is to make each state divide up
the cost with the railroads of wiping out a
grade crossing.
Measures will be introduced in the state
legislature to this effect, but there will be
considerable opposition, as many claim that
the state and counties gave the roads right
of way, and there Is no reason why they
should not look out for the lives of the
doners." f-