The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-01-15

tIldt II were kllleO ana many lnJu
The report after referring 10 signals
found to have been displayed by the local
train which was running ahead OF the
express said:
THE engineer OF the pilot engine OF the
express saw tho green lights at Lincoln
station, and at least one railroad fuse
near Lincoln station, but disregarded the
rule that required him TO reduce speed SO
as 60 proceed cautiously and so that he
could stop within seeing distance. rules
with which he was familiar he proceeded
on his way NJ high speed until collision
was unavoidable.
However disposed ono may be 10 treat
generously n man OF previous good record
and one OF a body OF men TO whose splen-
did fidelty and courage the public owe
81 much. It would be unjust TO those
whose lives were in tho care OF this en-
gincer to overlook his failure. In the per-
| formance OF duty"
The report then deals with the question
| OF spare" men, saying:
Every spare engineer has served his
term az fireman. and has passed written
and oral examination and ought TO be
equipped with all knowledge which can
be acquired previous to actual practice.
The mere fact that the engineer assigned
TO the Montreal Express was spare man
I'm no way prejudices him or the com
pany."
The question Of hours and labor also is
referred TO I'm the recommendation, the
report saying:
Hours OF labor on railroads ought 10
be regulated, but IN our opinion. this
should be done through agreement Of the
employer and emple end not by sta
tutes. There was an agreement of this
kind between the Boston and Maine rail-
road and its employees, but the record
shows that the agreement was not al
ways enforced. apparently through
mutual understanding that IL might at
times be disregarded. In this case, the
engineer assigned 10 the express had
worked beyond the ordinary limits dur
ing the week. but a night OF sleep and
day Of rest had interviewed between
his employment Of Saturday and that OF
Sunday night, and nothing that he said
and nothing that he did gave intimation
that his condition was physically or
mentally in any degree impaired.
Whether or not the work OF the pre-
ceding week had any remote connection
with what happened on this Sunday
night such instances as these show the
advantages OF a rigid enforcement Of
some general rule limiting hours OF labor,
and permitting exception only i'm such
cases as arc named in the rule and in
volye no risk OF life.
"The human factor plays so large a part
I'm all questions OF travel. even upon rail-
ways equipped with the most modern au-
tomato devices. that II Is Of no great
Importance that the assignment OF men
should he carefully safeguarded.
We are convinced that railroad en-
ployes do not desire legislation TO fix
hours OF labor upon railroads and We be
iieve that such legisa tion under present
conditions would he unwise. The desire
OF employees 10 work over time and the
inclination Of employers To profit by such
work practically destroys any limitation
upon the hours ~ labor under an agree
ment OF parties
The report continues:
Railroad rules arc too often uncertain
and inconsistent Changes are needed TO
make them more effective. and TO bring
about harmony I'm understanding and
praceice Colors should uniformly mean
the same thing. Rules should be few as
possible. clear. consistent, expressed I'm
simple language. capable Of and intended
for literal enforcement. In this way IA
miliarity is made easy. misunderstanding.
doubt and confusion prevented. the un-
certainties Of uuwritten customs done
away with and both employer and en-
ployee equally protected. We recommend
n REORGANIZATION OF existing rules upon
all our railways and street railways
Recent incidents with and without the
state emphasize the paramount import
Everything depends upon discipline In
military establishments ~ ls vet more
essential upon railroads and railways
ono undivided authority 20 be obeyed
without questioning Is Indispensable 70
safety. and any agreement or understand
ing which transfers the authority from
employer 10 employee in matters affect
Ing tho safe operation OF railroad. is
vicious.
The experience OF many years I'm run
ming trains upon the Boston a. Maine
railroad undoubtedly led the management
20 believe that the ru1es governing fuses
and red signals furnished adequate pro-
lection against such collision az that ~
Bakers bridge In defence OF that belief
II must be admitted that n these rules
had been followed there would have been
no accident at that place. In our opinion.
however. The rules left too much dis
cretion and responsibility with the train
hands.
obviously no arrangement Of mcchani-
cal devices vet invented can insure
against accident And yet beyond dues-
tlon. companies ought 10 have their Inn
portant lines equipped with them. Block
signals give an engineer more definite
knowledge of conditions Immediately
ahead ~ him and IN limiting the field
- i.fn rrarrpafhffifv fnrraa lS oh