Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-01

probably will have to obtain 1t. fnfor-
nation from some other source.
One statement has been made by Su-
perintendent of Transportation galloway
tending to clear the Compony or Dlame'
and that Is if Engineer Hlldeoranu
statement Is true that he saw no slgnai
lights at Takoma station he violated or
ders by not stopping to investigate Ia
koma is q day station, but the operator,
according to the rules of the company
is supposed to stay on duty until after
No SO, the wrecked local has passed
After that the operator IS at liberty TO
leave the station, tying up the caution
airy signals for the night. Superintend-
ent Galloway says that If there were no
lights at the station 1t was the business
OF the engineer of the passing train to
stop and Investigate the occurrence.
BY Interstate Commerce Commission.
An Investigation concerning the working
ana operation of the block signal system
upon the Baltimore and Ohio railroad and
tn Southern railway will be held Friday
morning, January /. at 10 clock at the
offices Of the Interstate commerce commits
sion. The commission has chosen these two
systems on account of the recent disasters,
collisions ANA dcrailments which have oc-
CURED upon their lines.
The Investigation viii be carried on by
tie authority conferred by public resolution
no. rs. approved June 50, 1906. which pro-
yidcs that the Interstate commerce COM
mission be directed to investigate and re-
port on the use and necessity Tor block sig
nal systems and appliances for the auto
matte control OF railway trains in the
states. For this purpose the commission
is authorized to employ persons who are ia
mlIar with the subject, and may use such
OF its own employees as are necessary to
maEr a thorough examination into the
matter.
In transmitting it's report to the Con-
gre the commission shall recommend such
legislation as to the commission seems ad-
Vlcable.
ITO carry out and give effect to the pro-
visions of this resolution the commission
shall have power to issue SubpoenaS, adj
minister oaths. examine witnesses, require
fhe production of books and papers and re-
ceive dispositions taken before any proper
officer in any state or territory OF the
United States"
II is practically decided that the commits
sion will have an epert at the coroner
inuuest, and while he will not be officially
entitled to ask questions he Will h,Ve the
benefit of all the testimony at first hand.
Relief Fund.
A relief fund has been suggested by Com
missioner Macfarland. 1t is not yet deli
nitely known whether there are any press
ing cases where such relief will be needed
Most of the victims of the wreck are
Washington people or from the suburbs
Fortunately for the families Of many of
them. there is no pressing money need to
add to their other troubles.
There may. however, be some cases where
quiet and discreetly applied RELIEF would
be a blessing and Commissioner Macfarland
has announced his readiness to receive such
subscriptions as may be rendered. Some
of the organizations of the city Will look
Into several of the individual cases and II
Il is found that relief is needed and re-
port is made to the District Commissioners
fhere is little doubt that abundant funds
will be made available.
Holiday Festivities Interrupted.
Owing to the local character of the dis
aster, many public and private festivities
have been interrupted. The network of
dead ramifed through so many families
that scores of homes have been closed to
New Year receptions and holiday merri-
nent. When the extent of the calamity be-
came known yesterday the stock ex-
change was closed mark OF respect to
the families of the dead.
The reception of the Women's Christian
temperance Union was also Cancelled