Watson's weekly Jeffersonian., 1907-08-01

AMERICAN RAILROADS MOST DEADLY IN
f @H WORLD.


has prepared comparative table of statistics of
persons killed and injured by railways in various
countries, finds the railroads in the United States
the most deadly.
America has more railway mileage than all Erl-
rope, but taking that into consideration the
United States holds preemnence in proportional
figures.
Out of every thousand railway employees the ra-
tio of injured each year is: United States, 1885,
Switzerland 25.3 England 11.8; Belgium, IL; Ger
many, "a. Killed: United States, 26.1; England,
1913; Switzerland 81; Russia, 78; British India
81; Belgium, Al
In the fiscal year 1923 Herr Cutlery finds that
76,5OO persons injured in the United States
OF whom $4,000 employees, and $500 were
killed. of whom $500 were employees
Fewest travellers injured in France
United States shows proportionatey 40 times as
many injured as in Russia, % times as many as in
Italy 20 times many as in England twice as many
in Germany.
The above speaks for itself, and shows plain
ly the ineficiency in the management of the
railroads in the United States
The record for next year will likely be more
appalling, but the railroads will likely continue
the policy of killing people rather than spend
enough money to protect the lives of passen-
gers and employees.
The New York World sizes up the situation
in North Carolina in the following editorial
THE NORTH CAROLINA CONFLICT.
Had Judge Pritchard in the North Carolina rate
cases followed the common example set by
Judge Mcpherson in the Missouri rate cases there
would be conflict between Federal and State au-
thorities
The Missouri Legislature at its last session en-
acted maximum freightrate law and a two-cent
passenger rate law. The State authorities under
took to enforce these acts and the railroads went
into the United States District Court for an in
junction the usual grounds. Judge Mcpherson
Strengthened out the tangle by temporarily deny
ing the petition until the effect of the act could
be proved by facts, not theories. AS he expressed
it, "The two-cent law should be put into effect
until it be ascertained by actual experience
whether two cents will be remunerative."
If at the end of two three months the figures
of operation show that the rate is unreasonable
Judge Mcpherson will issue writ of injunction
The North Carolina case could easily have been
disposed of in the same way. The railroads made
the same kind of plea. The Southerns lawyers
represented that rate of two and quarter cents
would so diminish revenues to amount to
fscation Of property, but no facts were presented
could be presented to sustain the contention.
Instead of following Judge McPherson's example
in the Missouri case, Judge Pritchard followed
Judge Lacombes example in the New York 80-cent
gas case, except that he has finally declared the
act invalid without showing that the rate was
reasonable.
Without questioning in the slightest degree the
good intentions the good faith Of Federal judges
who assume original jurisdiction in like that
in North Carolina, 1t is proper to point out that
State Legislatures State Courts and State exec
utives have constitutional rights which entitled
to respect. The growing tendency to assume that