The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-20

commerce commission, sent
to congress on Wednesday,
is n document meriting at
tention. It's contents may for con-
venience be divided into two depart
1ients: Statistical and administrative;
the former showing results during the
last fiscal year. the latter suggesting
measures of legislation. We shall con-
slider the results first
Railroads with 1953S5 miles of line, or
ninety eight per cent. of the country's
whole mileage. earned during the year
a net profit, not counting taxes of 49,
100 mile or 5000 66l6.795 altogether, an
increase of $51 100000 over Che year be-
fore, and more than s112 100000 more
than the net earnings in 1897. Divi-
denda on stock paid during the year
($150,6S5,954) We're $4,000, 900 more than
in 1901 and nearly twice as much as in
: 1897. Total gross earnings We're $1,673,-
31376S. n sum equal to nearly $21 for
every inhabtant of the United States.
For every S1.25 received by the rail-
roads in passenger fares, $2.75 was re-
ceived in freight fares.
The safety-appliance law passed in
1898, by which hand coupling of cars
was forbidden, is shown to have work.
ed beneficent results. The number of
persons killed and injured in coupling
and uncoupling cars during the year
ending June 80. 19O2-the first entire
year reported since the law went into
full effects-shows diminution as COM
pared with 1893, the year when the law
was passed, of siXty-eight per cent. in
the number killed and eighty-one per
cent. in the number injured. In 1893
the number of casualties from this
cause was 11.71O, of which 1888 We're
killed and 11,27T We're injured. III 1902
the total number was 1856, of which 143
We're killed and 2,113 injured. This
shows reduction of 9,454: and it is to
be borne in mind that the number of
men engaged in this work is much
greater now than it was in 1898. With
regard to collisions and deralments, the
figures OF the commission show approx
imately 2.5 collisions and is derailments
per 100 miles of railroad for the year;
and the losses by accidents, not includ-
ing damage to freight or sums paid to
persons for bodily injuries or on account
. Of death, average, roughly, $500 per
100 miles of road annually.
So much, briefly, for the mathematics
pf the report; we come now to it's eth
les. Although we have the automatic
coupler, there are dangers against
which it does not fully provide, such as
,l,,I, IT,,
ming order; poorly constructed coup"
lers; cars failing to couple except by
violent impact, leading to breakage, de-
lays and annoyances; men going be-
tween the cars to prepare for a second
coupling trial; defective levers or rods
and their connections. To promote
more general compliance with the spirit
> of the safety-appliance law in the use
of air brakes, the commission recon-
1nends the passage of an act forbidding
The running of trains in which less
than one-haff of the ears ave equipped
with power brakes, in operative condi-
lion, and suitably connected 10 the en-
,sine, and empowering the commission
20 issue Il general order on orders, re-
curing the use Of power brakes on
more than fifty per cent of the cars in
~ strain as and whenever it shall find
3 such Increased use to be practicable;
and also permitting the commission, in
: the case Of any particular road. after
'6hearing and Investigation, to permit,
for a specified period, the running of
!. trains with power brakes in use on less
than fifty per cent, of the cars therein,
, suoh orders to prevent any possible
hardship, due to unforeseen exigencles
The commission further recommends
that the, provisions relating To auto
aiatic couplers, grab irons. and height
Of drawbars be made to apply to all
4, locomotive tenders, cars, and similar
vehicles, both those used In interstate
: commerce and those in connection
Herewith, except those trains, cars, and
locomotives exempt under the present
law; and that the size, length, and To-
cation OF grab irons shall be prescribed
by the commission. All this relates TO
the better protection OF railway en-
ployes, who deserve it; but u larger
, question, is tho better protection of the
entire American public from dscrim-
'ynation and unjust exaetion, and with
IL the report deals at length.
The tendency to combine. il points
out, continues TO be the most significant
feature of railway development, 1t
lshas. its advantages, insuring, among
y other things, stability OF rates ana
2 prompter and better service. But it
!. also has its perils to the public and "a
law which might have answered the
purpose when competition was relied
I, upon to secure reasonable rates. is
demonstratably inadequate when That
rGmnetiti9n is displaced by the most