The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1903-03-20
TRIAL BY RAILWAY TRIBUNAL.
Where Accidents Are ih''
by Road officials and
Punished.

Huulsueu'
A railway court Of justice, private
" convened for the purpose o.
yestigating the causes OF aceluent9
and Furnishing the delinquents con
cerned, is open only to the oniela's
of the line and to servants Oh tn0
company who may be called as WI
nesses. But, by the courtesy Oh an
ex-otticial. the write has been en-
abled to CLEAN authentic de.aiis
aucnt this little-known court OF law
says London Tit-Bits.
On most of the important lines n
railway tribunal meets once every
week, and a representative board OIL
officials go through the list OF ac'
cidents and cases of fragrant miscon-
duct. On a big railway lots OF MINOR
mishaps occur which are never re-
corded by the press, but these are
duly reported by local officials TO
headquarters, and those Responsible
for the occurrences are called TO
rive an account of their stewardship.
These official inquiries are mercl-
lessly critical and go deeply into all
the technical details of the case.
When the locomotive of a goods tram
breaks down on any part OF the line
the driver is expected to furnish a
| full descriptive report OF the episode,
and in some instances sections OF
severed axles, or wheels, are forward
ed to London for expert inspection.
Often it is exceedingly difficult to
decide whether an accident has been
caused by defective material or by
negligence on the part of the driver;
but no trouble or expense is spared
to enable the court to arrive at a
just verdict on the case. Inspectors
who have gone carefully into the
matter are often called upon to
travel hundreds of miles to tender
their evidence to the court. Such
care is thoroughly justifiable when it
is remembered that on the decisions
of this court many a mans charac-
ter and position depend.
If a driver is found to be directly
responsible for an accident through
culpable carelessness he is usually
suspended from duty for a certain
number Of weeks, during which he
forfeits his pay. If drunkenness is
clearly proved against him the sequel
is generally dismissal from the com.
pany's service. But for misconduct
of a less serious order he may be de.
graded to some mental office on the
line, at half his former salary.
Brainy men are essential to delib
crate with equity on the complicated
cases occasionally brought to this
court for settlement, for evidence OF
the most contradictory character is
furnished in connection with some
catastrophes. The statement made
by a signalman will vary consider
ably from that rendered by a driver
on a case in question, while the re
port of an inspector anent the sam,
happening may differ materially from
both the other witnesses. But .
judicial sitting of evidence, aided b,
careful cross-cxamination, often en-
ables the court to arrive at a fairl,
just settlement.
1t is interesting to note that
faithful record of every servant i
kept for reference at headquarters
and this is invariably inspected whe,
an employe is called up either TO
promotion or punishment. If a ma,
has committed himself on several &C
casions, and is called to answer
serious charge before the oficia
tribunal, he stands a good chance q
degradation Or dismissal, accordin
to the gravity of his last offense.
Occasionally a servant of the con
pany who has been dismissed insist
that his case has not been Justly de
c,ded, and sends a strong appeal t
she directors. In special cases. wher
there is the slightest loophole fo
doubt as to the wisdom of the conr+,
decision, the directors order q fres
and searching inquiry to be inst
tuted' and if this investigation prove
favorable to the applicant he
usually reinstated.
But such cases are comparatiyel
rare. When a man is dismissed e.
culpable negligence or insobrietv
is almost impossible for him to 81
tain a similar position on anothe
line, for he has forfeited his chara,
ter. His only chance is to try Anne,
lea or the colonies, and there !
make q fresh start in life