The Washington herald., 1907-01-16
WRECK INQUIRY ADJOURNED
Interstate Commissioners to InVesti-
gate Startling Statement.
Superintendent Hobbs Claims the
Engineer Gave False Testimony
Before CorOner's Jury.

Division Superintendent o. II. Hobbs, OF
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. made 8
statement before the Interstate Commerce
Commission yesterday that may throw an
entirely different aspe H.HBBH The ease Of
the FIVE employees of thSTOad held Dy thu
cOroner-s jury for the action Of the grand
jury as responsible for the Terra Gotta
wreck Hobbs stated that Engineer Yer
million, Of the wrecked train-No. chad
admitted before the railroad authorities
that he had given false testimony ut the
cOrOneTs inquest
When asked as to the nature Of thc
testimony that Vermillion is supposed 10
have admitted TO be false, Hobbs said
that he was not prepared 20 tell the de
tails Of the supposed contradiction. but
that the stenographic report Of the hear
ing before the railway officials could be
produced within q day OF two. The COM
mission adjourned. and postponed its next
hearing until the report mentioned by the
superintendent could be produced
Hobbs assertion gave rise TO much
speculation as 10 the nature Of the ad-
mission Of VermiAion The Importance Of
VermiEon's information to the railroad
authorities in its bearing on the fate Of
Operator Dutrow and Engineer Hide
brand depends upon whether the testi-
mony referred 10 as being false deals
with the character Of the signal at Silver
Spring OF some minor matter.
Should it be shown that Vermilli0n had
admitted that his testimony 10 the effect
that he had received the double green"
at Silver Spring was untrue, it viii
naturally follow that the testimony Ot
the other members of the crew OF .
is equally assaildble. InasmUch as DU-
trow has always sworn that he gave the
white signal or clear block 10 both trains.
which If true would relieve him of al
responsibility for the wreck, the dis
covery that the men on No. 65 had given
false testimony would be regarded as 4
great point in the young operators favor
Until the notes Of the hearing before
the railroad officials are brought before
the commissioners. the Importance Of
Hobbs statement cannot be estimated. II
VermilliOn merely admitted having testi-
fed falsely as to certain Unimportant
points. the notes viii throw little light
on the affair
The efficacy Of the block signal system
was discussed at length. both by mem
bers Of the commission and railroad men.
Commissioner +. +. Clarke. who was for
many years an active railroad man. de-
clared that safe railroad conditions would
require the use Of positive and not a per-
missive block. which must be observed.
If a signal showed red, he said. a train
should stop. If no clear signal was then
forthcoming. ii would be proper 10 flas
the train then in the block. This would
Obviate the danger of excessive speed as
exists under caUtiOuary signals. for the
train could so no faster than man
would walk
This statement was brought out by the
testimony OF Vice President Potter. He
testified that neither the manual nor the
automatic block was infallible, and that
accidents had occurred which disclosed
weak points in both systems
Representative Pearre, Of Maryland. yes
terday introduced a bill providing for the
examination and license of all railroad
telegraph operators. and limiting the
hours of service to eight IN each day Of
twenIy-fOur hours