The times., 1901-05-01
ACCIDENTS ON RAILWAYS.
The Forms for Making Reports I'm
der Confederation


Representatives OF railroads in all parts
OF the United States appeared before the
Interstate Commerce Commission yester<
day, at the invitation of the Commisston,'
to discuss a-law recently passed by Cons
gress, requiring monthly report OF rail-
road accidents. Several months ago the
Commission drew up a trial form upon
which to make these reports and sent
copies to all the railroads in the country.
with letter announcing that a session Of
the Commission to discuss the form Of
report prepared and to make such aItera-
uons as appeared necessary would be held
In Washington April 30. and inviting rep
resentatives from the railroads to attend
There were about thirty persons present
when the Commission met yesterday, and
the morning was taken up chiefly in de-
sultCry discussion. Each railroad man
present was asked TO give his experiences
with accidents and the method OF report
Ing them in use on his road. An attempt
was made to get at a definition of the
word accident. The Commission desired
10 know how small an injury to an en-
ploye could be called an accident and
wnat amount OF pecuniary loss could be
considered to warrant a report being
made On the latter point IL was the gen
eral opinion of all who gave testimony
thas nothing less than $50 loss would
warrant a report
In regard to accidents to passengers
and trainmen. several witnesses declared
that only severe accidents should be re-
ported II minor casualties were included
the list would become very large, and a
wrong impression would be produced IN
capacity for work for five days was
thought reasonable grounds for a report.
cd
be taken OF accidents TO tramps stealing
rides, no provision for which had been
made in the report form.
AT the afternoon session Samuel Com
pers, Of the American Federation OF La
Dor, addressed the Commission. He
urged that any injury which untitled an
employe for work longer than twenty
four hours should be included in the re-
ports TO be made. He insisted that the
managers Of railroads do not consider
sufficiently the well being and the safety
Df their men.
Additional testimony along the lines OF
by the railroad representatives. At $50
The meeting was adjourned
The railroad representatives are satis-
led to have had the opportunity of pre-
senting their side OF the case, and a ma
ority of them left Washington last night
Among those present at the hearing
icitor, Lehigh Valley; George Marsden.
Lain Agent. New York. Ontario and
" estern; NJ. ]. Doran. General Solicitor.
Norfolk and Western; e L Russel. Gen
.ral Counsel. Mobile and Ohio: Ed Baxter.
special Counsel; W. p. Brady, General
agent. Burlington. Cedar Rapids and
Northern; John L Thomas Colorado and
southern. w. +. Merrill. First Vice Presi-
lent. New York. New Haven and Hart
ord. l.. +. Payson Southern Pacific. r.
whiting, Lake Shore and Michigan
j. W. EaEan. President Cen
raj Railroad OF Georgfa. n c. Cunning
lam, General Counsel. Central Railroad
. Georgia: u. II. BargeF Norfolk and
y esterns Charles y. Keller Assistant
5"neral Solicitor. Chicago. Milwaukee ard
u Paul. Samuel Gompsrs. President
american Federation OF Labor, Charles
!, Hamlin, Boston and Maine. George r.
3rownell. Erie and New York Central:
y. A. Gardner. Chicago and Northwest
rns W G Brown. General Manager. Chi
ago. burlington and Quincy. and J. a
q Hamilton. Claims Attorney. Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe.