The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-03-29
No WONDER
They COMPLAIN
.
IF Indiana Laws are Cr1Ce<
rion Railroads Have
Kick Coming.
WILL ASK FOR A BRIEF
Commission Prepares One Enumer-
ating Recent Changes, at Re-
quest of International Body.
Especial to Lake County Times).

Especial TO Lake county T1mes).
Indianapolis. March 29.-PIaying Its
part in the railroad program of Presi-
dent Roosevelt, the Indiana state rail-
road commission, in response to a re-
quest from the interstate commerce
commission has prepared a brief. made
public today, OF the changes and ad-
ditions to the laws concerning rail-
roads since 1902. And If the changes
that have occurred in Indiana are mir
rored in the laws of other states, it
IS small wonder that the railroad men
have gone to the president to protest
against the storm of legislation regu-
lating railroads among the states of
the union.
Only this, the official classification of
the changes made looking towards the
better regulation of railroads, will
show up clearly the multitude of laws
passed in the last five years with ref
erence to this subject. On every hand
are limitations made, as to equipment,
men, hours of labor. rates both pas
senger and freight, authority, etc. II
is a remarkable showing of the power
of the state as a corporation, when
once the necessity of action against the
private corporations makes itself man
ifest.
T,vO-Cent Fare Law Leads.
First in Importance in the compila-
tion is the Indiana two-cent fare law
last in it's enactment. This will be-
come effective when the acts are pub
lished about the middle of April
There are thirteen different items re-
Iating to the prohibition of dangerous
structures and the use OF safety ap-
1slfsssFees aAslaa1aes these
are the following: Necessity of power
brakes. grab irons, hand holds, stand
ard draw bars, automatic couplers
safety appliances for passenger trains
air brakes on motor cars. overhead
bridges sufficiently above the track
Inspectors are provided for the vio-
lation of the different items, such in
spectors to travel free on the trains.
Foremost among the baggage regu-
lations is that one which provides that
commercial travellers samples are to be
carried as baggage and the charges
for the excess is to be one cent for
each three miles for each 100 pounds
the minimum charge to be % cents on
less than 500 pounds and 80 cents on
over 500 pounds.
The law now requires a company 'to
publish printed rules for the opera
tion OF trains, place them in the hands
of the employees and file with the
commission, and to examine trainmen
every six months for the next eighteen
months, and then annually" The train
men and operating officials are to meet
each year upon call of the railroad
commission. and discuss the accidents
of the preceding year. In case of an
accident resulting in the loss of life,
the commission may report the person
guilty to the prosecuting officer.
More Progress Required.
Inclusive power is given the com
mission TO enforce laws relative to
the movement OF traffic. These laws
require, among other things, that cars
must go forward at an average OF
fifty miles a day or twice as eXpenditi-
ously as at present on the average in
the United States; that they be set for
unloading within twenty-four hours
after they have been received; cars to
be furnished within forty-eight hours
after demand is made; and permits
the railroad commission to apply for
an operating receiver of any road
which does not obey the orders of the
railroad commission with reference to
the movement Of cars and traffic.
There must be full crew of five or
more for al freight trains having fifty
cars or more, and for all passenger
trains having five cars or more-en-
gineer. fireman. conductor. brakeman
and flagman. All companies operating
dining cars and selling liquors must
pay a state license of $1,000.
The brief filed with the interstate
commerce commission then outlines the
powers of the railroad commission as
conferred upon 1t by the last commits
sion bill. These have been enumerated
in these columns several times
Before concluding with the account
of the report to be made to different
state officers, including the tax board,
the state statistician and the railroad
commission, the brief enumerates the
crimes of which carrier may be
guilty:
To confine live stock on cars long
er than twenty-four hours without
feed water and rest; to transport
diseased stock: to suffer passenger
cars TO be locked: for trainmen to be
intoxicated; to obstruct a highway or
street crossing; to operate passenger
train without ak, sledge hammer. saw
and bucket; and several minor crimes.
FOR RENT-A few spacious, well
lighted, well ventilated Office rooms and