The Washington times., 1907-01-07
Laws Demanding Radical
Reforms in Management
Among Possibilities.
Members of Congress Are
Stirred to Action by Re-
cent Disasters.
People Also Demanding
Prompt Legislation in
Behalf of Safety.

Upon the railroads of this coun-
try reforms ia their operation and
in the personnel of their employees
are about TO be forced by legisla-
tion, unless ali signs fail.
Startled by the recent loss c. life
in railroad wrecks in the District Of
Columbia. Virginia. Kansas. and
other States-a loss of life that re-
sembled butchery and carnage more
than aecident-members of Congress
nave come forward with bills look
ing 10 a strict regulation OF the
operation of railroads. They would
give this supervision 10 the Inter
state Commerce Commission.
They would have telegraph oper-
atOrs examined and licensed, thus
doing away with the army of men
who are employed by railroads and
are alleged L be either incompetent
or unreliable. They would shorten
the hours of work, abOlishing rules
~ WHICH AAACn NaA Wi ulllLl lAlNAl
eyelids are heavy rom Iack of
sleep and their brains light from
wan of rest.
Reliable Men Necessary.
They would sttpulate that the rail-
roads secure able men. reliable men.
men who. when thousands of lives de-
pend upon their judgment and resource
fulness. can meet the demands Of the
situation. If no other means OF accom-
pishing such a change is found, II may
be that a law will be passed specifying
that reasonable living wages shall be
paid.
The legislators OF the land are aroused.
Into the council chambers OF the great
est legislative body in the world there
has gone the murmur of the unrest of
she people, who have told the Congress
men that they travel In fear.
And behind the member Of Congress
IN this move for more safety on rail-
roads. The people Of the country are
gathering with greater and greater
strength.
Says Reform Is Needed.
Representative Hardwick OF Georgia.
the author OF the first bill that was
introduced this session To give TO the
Interstate Commerce Commission the
power or more closely supervising the
work OF Tie railroads, said last night:
There Is no question in my mind
that such "a reform is needed. Also.
there seeing TO be no question OF il
II the minds OF the people. especially
the travelling people. The railroads are
more thar great corporations. They
are the creatures OF public necessity,
and public convenience puts under their
care every day millions Of the lives of
the public.
That these lives should be guarded
most zealously is too evident a fact 10
be dwelt upon.
Il nave looked nto the statistics re-
garding wrecks and deaths from ac-
cidents on the railroads of the country.
and / am convinced that much oe
such calamity Is due TO th1 emplOymen.
OF half grown boys and such men as
Will work for the low wages offered by
the railroads Such a state OF affairs
IS q constant menace 10 The public. Il
shows a grea: disregard for the duty
which deyolves upon every agent car
rying the travelling public.
i shall make every effort possible 10
have the bill passed, and / think the
outlook sor 1t or for a similar measure
Representative MorreI Of Pennsylva-
MIA is the author OF a bill TO nave a
special committee OF the HOUSE AlNGzt4- Q
gate the causes or wrecks ana 10 rec
ommend TO congress a bill giving the
Interstate Commerce Commission super
vision OF the operation of trains, etc,
by the railroads.
Public. Takes Same View.
That the public takes the same view
OF the situation as that expressed by
Mr.. Hardwick is shownl in the following
letter received by The Times.
To the Editor Of The Washington Times:
notwithstanding the fact hat the
Interstate Commerce Commission is IN
V~estigAUing the cause OF the recent APP
pauing disasters on the railroads
throughout the country, and Congress
is e~ndeaVoring 20 md a way 10 compel
the railroads TO adopt a safer method
OF operating the telegraph block signal
system. II Is evident that no permanent
good will be accomplished IN this direc-
ton while the railroads are permitted
20 employ young. inexperienced and
often irresponsible men in their tele- !
graph departments. Being a travelling
salesman, 1 have occasion 10 ride over
the Southern railroad almost daily, and
while on these trips. particularly on
the branch lines or that road, / note /
bows in knee trousers employed in the
telegraph offices copying train orders
and delivering same TO passenger trains.
] have also noticed that many OF the
block stations along the railway lines
are a rendezvous for loafers and men
of d~issipated habits. who bring liquor
20 the operators. The Southern Rail-
way Company Is authority for the state
ment that all OF its block operators are
competent and efficient men. That this
statement is untrue is evident By the
fact that II Is utterly impossible 10
secure competent men 10 remain in
these towers twelve hours a day every
day in the year for s45 per month.
j. W. R.
Washington, D. c., January 4, 1897.