The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-11-22
LAWS MAY FORCE
RAILROAD SAFETY
CONGRESS MAY SEEK TO REDUCE
ACCIDENT RATE.
The Most Probable Legal Remedy Will
Be National Legislation Compelling
All Roads to Install Improved Signal
Systems-An Organized Railroad
Lobby Expected to Oppose Action.

Special to The Journal. ... .... --
Chicago, Nov. 22.-Walter Wellman,
in a Washington special to the Record
Herald, says:
An effort is to be made during the
coming session of congress to secure
legislation designed to increase immu-
nifty from train accidents on American.
railways. The whole country has been
shocked by the record OF disasters on
the railways of the United States dur
ing the past year. The report recently
submitted by the interstate commerce
commission showed total of deaths
on the rail in this country that startled
railroad men as well as the general
public. @5.
The percentage Of fatalities to num-.
Der of passengers carried is so much
greater in the United States than in
England and other foreign countries
that even railway men now are admit
ting that something must be done. -
Comparison with Europe. r.
30 Altho the fair method Of comparing
the record of other countries with that
of American roads is in passengers
killed or hurt per mile of, travel, and
not wholly as to the nun Der of passen-
gers carried" since the average railway
Journey in this country is so much
longer than the average abroad, even
this more favorable comparison still
leaves black mark against the Ameri-
can railroads. :, 80 -. p
Inasmuch as Americans admittedly
excel the remainder Of the world in
almost every field Of transportation, or:
ganization and mechanics, thoughtful
men consider it reproach to our coun-
try that the present condition Of af-
fairs should be permitted to continue
without remedy. 's-.
el1o, "a
take is, of course, matter Of dispute.
The most Intelligent opinion is that
congress should enact legislation re-
curing all railways operating trains
in interstate traffic to install improved
/ gnaJ systems in order to secure great
er safety in the handling of trains: So
far as most American railroads are con-
cerned, signal systems superior to- any
thing they now have in use are avail
able, but the roads do not install them
on account of the expense.
The Best Means to the End.
One opinion is that the railroads
should be compelled by law to, adopt
the best signal systems, regardless of
cost, just as the interstate roads have
! been, compelled to adopt AUTOMATIC
opinion, shared by many of the best
and most progressive railway men Of
the country, is that the roads should
be left free-handed to work out their
own salvation without any interference
by congress. In support Of this opin'
ion the argument is advanced that no
one possibly could be more interested
in preventing accidents than the man
ayers of the roads.
If congress attempts to. force them
! to adopt certain types of signals, it
will follow as matter Of course that
cheap and inefficient signal systems
will be put on the market and many
railway managers may be tempted tc
adopt them.
IT seems certain that If serious eff
fort is made to enact legislation or
this subject during the coming session
Of congress, the railways will organize
to resist.