The times., 1901-04-30
THE CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS.
An Enquiry by the Interstate Conf
merce Commission.

Railroad men from all over the country
Will gather in this city today TO appear
before the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. Almost every railroad in the Uni
ted States will be represented. The meet
ing of the railroad men and the session
of the Interstate Commerce Commission
are the results of a law passed by the
last Congress. The enactment made it
obligatory for every railroad to make a
monthly report to the Interstate Com
merce Commission of every accident
great or small, happening to its employees,
| passengers, or on its lines.
The law was passed quite late in the
session and met with but little opposition
/ from the railroads. The Interstate Com
merce Commission took up the considera-
! tion of the manner in which the law could
| be enforced. and some time ago issued
a report schedule, in book form, cover
! ing, in the questions asked, every con-
! ceivable form of accident
/ This form was sent TO all the railroads
! and a letter from Edward Moseley. Sec
retary of the Commission. accompanied it.
! The letter called attention to the act and
/ to the report form. and stated that the
! form was submitted for criticism, ana,
further. that session of the Interstate
! Commerce Commission would be held In
| this city April 80, to which representa-
! tives from all railroads were invited for
the purpose of discussing the best method
for putting the law into effect.
1t is understood that the railroad men
! Will make no attempt to antagonize the
law. Every railroad company IS required
/ to make a report on accidents TO the
| railroad officials of the States through
which it's lines pass. The form which the
Commission has prepared is very compre-
hensive An effort will be made to have
the form condensed, and to have the
double entries of some forms of accident
done away with.
Some discussion may arise in today S
meeting over the construction of the law
The act of Congress provides that a
monthly report Of all collisions and all ac-
cidents to employees shall be made by the
railroad, with an explanation of the causes
and nature of the accident. Failure to
comply with these provisions Is punish
able by fine Of not more than Si07 with
an additional 800 for each day OF delin-
quency The right of the Interstate Com
| merce Commission to demand it. and the
Commissions Jurisdiction over accidents
may be questioned. There is some differ
ence of opinion as 10 wnat ar Interstate
accident IS This point may lead to some
sharp controversies.
The railroads ere not much inclined te
oppose the enforcement of tie law be
cause they do not think that ii is aimed
at their interests at ali. The general d'a
is that the Government desires TO o5tair
statistics upon railroad accidents with q
view to making laws which will III d meas
ure obviate them
4 number of the men WHO viii appear
/ before the Commission arrived yesterday
and established headquarters q the SrcTe
ham Hotel. Walter D. Hines, Assistant
Chief Attorney of tie Louisville and Nash
vile Railway, is secretary Of the party
Other members are Joseph Brady, Genera
Agent of the burlington, Cedar Rapid!
and Northern; j. y. NJ Hamilton, attor
ney for the Atrhis0n, Topeka and SAINT;
Fe; Joseph l. D1r1n, general solicitor o
the Norfolk md IVES ern; Edward Baxter
special counsel for Southern railroads
Almost all the Western railroads, inc!ud
ing the Union Pacific and Great Northern
the Chicago and Northwestern, the South
ern Pacific, the Burlington. and the St
Paul, will have representatives here today
and there will be officials. also from road
| the South