New-York tribune., 1907-01-06

ment by the railroads themselves be passed. over
as fortutous-a thing that can't be helped.
An accident is defined by Webster's Dictionary
as ian event that takes place without ones fore
sight or expectation: event which proceeds from
an unknown cause. or Is an unusual effect OF a
known cause. and therefore not expected" 1t is
not put down by Noah Webster any other
philoogist that accidents cannot be prevented. So,
II men, women and children to be killed an
nually in numbers equivalent ten regiments of
soldlers by so-called accidents the rail- would
seem high time the country set itself to the task
OF preventing these accidents. For the year ended
March 81 1906 there 1884 collisions and s279
deraIments on the American railroads. a total of
131l8 so-called accidents one TO every sixteen
and half miles OF track operated
IL takes no railroad expert to explain the causes
OF colhsions and derailments. Every layman knows
that when two trains come together IL is because
the railroad is not properly equipped with signals
prakes and other devices for preventing such mis-
haps. or is due the negligence OF one or more Of
rle men VINO nave the trains under their manage
iiehI or one or more OF the in the signal ser
vice or operating the telegraph wires When q
train IS oerailed every layman knows that II 20
because of rotten tie, or a spreading rail mr. 1.
loose spike. or some obstruction on the track which
Should not be there ~
ms IN nutshell. explains the causes of the
wrecks which scatter havoc along the roadba5e NJ
the American railway lines. The deadly grade cross
ing on which many lives are annually SACRIFICED
heeos no explanation. The deaths from coupling
cars. jumping OF moving trainp tba ra -,
or trains, falling from engines or trains or such
result from the general work about the shops and
yards, may or not find their explanation in tbe
element Of chance-accident
what would the people of the United States bavs
10 say about 1t If the powers at Washington cot
supneiy While ten regiments OF the standing, army,
were marched out in single year and shot down ?
Ihe comparison is not far fetched when tbe ,yofuI
isck OF attention to so serious a matter at Wash
'ngton Us taken into consideration
bor nearly twenty years the Inters,. g.
iieice commission has been work as a ,r,aa.,
gazing body with special duties of Ioo,,,, -.
'e peoples interests in their dealings with ,ho
ioaos' put II was not until March g. 1901 that
congress passed law requiring all rat1ro,ds g.
iiaAe monthly reports to this body of all railway
e!'' .heir causes and the number OF killed
ana injured 1t should be borne in mind that th.
49, or sno intcrstarS Commerce. Commission o..
A3fs surShae La. -Sazfzs sS,~-. -v.-r+. -. =. -
COINS IN. Ihe commission has absolutely no suoer
Visory. no corrective power All that Coneress IN
ever oone to put stop to tho annual butoberv or
the railroads was by little enactment of March
1888. which required railroads to adopt autonat,c
brakes and couplers. This law was amended to-
years later so as TO require that at least 30 nar
cehtuih OF the cars OF train be equipped with
such devices. The Interstate Commerce. Copo,,;,
sion then received more investigating powers
II could send out the few inspectors allowed r.
TO ascertain which OF the railroads were disreeard
ing this law about brakes and couplers and when
uiis Information was In hand recommendations
could be made that the courts take I'D the prosecn
ton. The result has been that a few hnes bay.
been imposed.
Meanwhile. the commission has the painful duty
of reminding Congress every three months in bulle-
tins end every year In a moro comprehensive re-
port that tho railroads OF the country are killing
men, women and children at the rats OF twenty-six