The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-15
LAX SYSTEM is
MENACE TO LIFE
Continued From First Page)

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CONTINUED From First Puget
WAS conspicuously lacking In several OF
the operating departments OF the road.
The habit OF operators In changing shifts
and substituting for each other some
times subjected them to eighteen hours
work, period beyond the safety limit.
The high rate of speed on passenger
trains operated on this road Is another
contribution to the dangers of travel,
and It Is declared that under the physi-
cal and traffic conditions of the portion
Of the road where the wreck occurred
such high speed should be forbidden,
Menace to life.
Even more important is the pronounce
ment of the commission as to conditions
on railways In general, which result In q
grave menace to human life. Coupled
with this ia ringing demand for such
regulations by the railways and SUCH
legislation by the State as will mako
criminal negligence, resulting in loss Of
life or limb, q penal offense. The habit
Of permitting trainmen to work excess
sive hours, whether 1t be compulsory or
permisslve. is productive Of the same
grave danger. Overtaxed physical endur-
ance has ever been one OF the most pro-
life causes Of disaster. In Its powerful
appeal for more adequate safeguards
around human life, the commission makes
a ringing demand for effective Legislation,
holding those directly and criminally re-
sponsible for loss Of life punishable In
the courts, whether 1t be president, man
ager or brakeman.
A plea is made for the punishment not
alone Of the individual employe, but OF
the official whose negligence in the en-
forcement OF regulations permits such
violations OF regulations to go unpun-
ished.
In It's conclusion the commission thus
sums up its recommendations and con-
illusions In a single sentence: IF the laws
now in existence are adequate to this end
Che punishment OF criminal negligence),
they should be- enforced; II additional
legislation is needed, 1t should be prompt
ly enacted
AS Is we'll known, the commission Is
without jurisdiction to enact or enforce
criminal laws, and all It can do is to
direct public attention to the need Of
such statutory enactments.
The Great Wreck.
The commission recites the details OF
the collision between southbound passen-
ger trains Nos. 81 and 80, OF the Southern
Railway. near lawyers, Va, November
29th, and the disastrous and fatal conse-
qu4nces. 1t recalls the fact that the
commission, on the 18th of December. had
an investigation to ascertain the causes
of the wreck. in which the train crews
of both trains and several officials OF
the road testified.
With this preliminary statement the
commission summarizes Its conclusions in
eight separate sections as follows:
l. That Block Operator Mattox, at RAN
failed fot a no
was clear. and SO notify the operator at
Lawyers. and have received from him
the message signal displayed, both OF
which he was required by regulations to
do before allowing No. SO to enter the
block
2. That Conductor Loving erred In not
cutting out the defective car at Lynch
burg, owing to which the delay to No.
81. which contributed to the accident,
was caused later. He should have re-
ported the condition of his train to the
dispatcher and. asked instructions.
g. The commission is in doubt from the
evidence whether Fiag1nan Bennett went
back as far IN rear of the parted train.
No. 81, as the time at his disposal per-
mitted. but even If he had ne could prob
ably not have prevented the collision.
4. That the rule requiring the fagman
" BO DdCh u required Instance 10 nag
approaching trains could not have pre-
vented the disaster. owing to the failure
OF the block signal-man to observe the
rules. rule requiring a time separa-
ton OF trains is suggested as an addi-
tional safety-guard.
S. The commission declares that the
operation OF the signal station at Law
yer's by Block Operator Jacobs was high
ly unsatisfactory. as was his evidence
g. The commission strongly condemns
the lack of supervision of the signalmen
by some one In authority to see that
requirements were fulfilled by them: to
prevent their exchanging turns and to
require them to turn in block sheets
for inspection. and their allowing visitors
In the office.
Z. The evidence adduced shows that
operators We're employed without suffi-
cient experience and after inadequate
examination as to qualifications.
5. That Dispatcher Thornton at Lynch
burg should have known Of condition of
train 33. and that definite instructions
should have been given the conductor as
to handling the car with defective coup
ling. i
Some Conclusions.
Taking up the more general aspects Of
the situation, the commission declares: