The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-03-24
Twelfth Page
What's Agitating the People

"Society, and even the church, is honeycombed
with perjury" is the substance of editorial in the
Living Church. one of the leading Episcopal papers
OF the country.
Replying to the question whether the church is
strong enough to fight such conditions the paper
replies:
"Ah, but she has not cleared her own skirts We
must not forget perjury is Haunted in her face by
her own priests, and there not wanting among
the most powerful of her sons those who defend
them in it."
The Living Church declares that "the record of
recent legal Investigations into insurance msman.
agement, into the oil trust and into many forms of
trust operation has been one Of the most monument
tai exhibitions of perjury the part of men OF high
standing as gentlemen that the world has ever seen.
Witnesses take upon themselves fippantly the oath
to tell the whole truth and then in response to ques
ton after question smilingly answer: don't
remember. And our religion has become so softened
that preacher warns them that all liars'-not
event trust magnates, insurance officials and priests
of the church, are excepted-'shall have their part
in the lake which burneth with fire and birthstone,
which is the second DEATH"
"He was asleep at his post"
Wornout from overwork telegraph operator in
Colorado fell asleep and his neglect of duty caused
wreck in which rs persons were killed and many
were injured
The operator says he was overworked; that he
had been on duty SO hours. The railway company
asserts that he was not; that his hours from
7 o'clock at night until o'clock in the morning
and that he was not obliged to work longer
court will attempt to prove which statement is
correct, but punishment of the offender will not
restore life assuage the grief of those bereaved.
The Chicago News in rendering an opinion on
this disaster, says:
eff the operator at Adobe was actually compelled
to remain at his post day and night until he dropped
asleep from sheer exhaustion some one higher up
in the management of the railway should be made
to undergo criminal prosecution. So long atroci-
ties of this kind our transportation
lines it will be futile for the managers of American
railway systems to try to free themselves of the
charge of wantOn disregard for human life. The
Colorado accident was barbarity which should not
have been possible in civilized country. It
inexcusabe, the factors contributing to it being
plainly cassifable among preventabe causes Yet
1t Is but of many accidents due to defective equip
ment laundering and incompetent management
Not until a few railway officials are hanged for
murder until rigiL laws enacted and enforced
compelling the employment of proper methods in
running trains will safety of railway travel be
secured in this country"
A suggestion of drastic treatment, yet some rem
edy should be found to better insure safety of trav
elers, and step in this direction would be reduc
ing the hours of labor The twelve-hour stretches
of telegraphers ought to be reduced to eghthour
day. ut least in stations where the duties many
Another reform tending to safety would be the
placing of second engineer in the cab of every loco
motive hauling passenger train No vessel dares
put to sea without maintaining lookout every min
ute of the voyage, and If q lookout in the person
of assistant engineer for every passenger train
be adopted by the railways many accidents would be
avoided, In case of sickness death of the first
engineer while the train in motion, disregard
of signals orders his place could be filled the
omissions of duty corrected by his assistant
The Navy Department will attempt to prevent
the use of naval titles for commercial and advertis
ing purposes, step which is in good taste and likely
to be pleasing to everybody except patent medicine
manufacturers and promoters of schemes. The atten
tion of the department was drawn to the Admiral
Prndle Mining Company, and the retired officer
whose name and title were thus used officially
reported for "reprehensible conduct" and notified
that the name of the concern be changed
A recent business change in Jacksonville is a
matter of regret in that commercial intercourse has
ceased with of its most popular citzens-Ed Fet'