The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-02

and perhaps a wise and useful provision
Of law, If such a beard bad power TO ex-
anime and report upon the financial con-
dition OF roads operating under charters
granted By the state, and to exercise
such control over the financial operations
as may be thought necessary TO sase-
guard the interests of stockholders and IN
vestors.
.~'sixth-The board should have at least
advisory and perhaps supervisory powers
In cases where municipalities are laying
out new streets and roads, or proposing TO
do SO, whereby new grade crossings are
created,
many railroad accidents are caused by the
~aVoidable carelessness of employees that 1t
might be no more than simple Justice IL
such reprehensible employees were sub
ject to arrest and penal prosecution and
punishment for violation of the rules and
regulations, similar to those embodied in
The standard Code and Train Rules OF
the American Railway Association"
If this suggestion is acted upon by the
Legislature provisions similar to those EN-
bodied in The Standard Code and Train
Rules should be made a part of the. gen.
eral railroad law of the State and the
penalties fixed By the terms of the statute.
"Eighth-The act by its present terms
gives the commission power to compel the
attendance of witnesses and imposes,
among other duties. the obligation of in
vestigating railroad accidents, attended
with or without loss of human life. 1t
would seem that any witness thus sub
poenaed and ~interfOgated In respect to his
own conduct, If such conduct were crimi-
nal, might decline to answer upon the
ground that his reply would tend to in
eliminate or degrade him. The Interstate
Commerce Commission was early con-
fronted with this difficulty, and in 1898, a
new act was passed by Congress, by which
all witnesses were obliged to answer. This
provision, If Incorporated in the. present
act, would add to its efficiency. We think,
too, that such evidence, documentary or
otherwise, as the commission shall then
obtain, should never be available for use
in any suit or proceedings except, of
course such as either the State or the
commission may be a party to.
iNinth--The commission having control
of railroad traffic in his State should also
be invested with power to regulate the
operation of ferries connected with rail-
roads, and the embarkation and debarka-
ton of passengers at terminals on the
made, with evident good reason, of the
alleged inconsiderate departure of ferry
boats without due reference TO the arrival
Of trains, of the lack of arrangements to
prevent the elashing and collision OF IN
coming and outgoing passengers, n the
absolute lack of all toilet accommodations
on the boats.
'renth-The board is also of the opin-
lon that the law should be amended So as
to permit orders to be made requiring
reasonable and convenient connection OF
passenger trains at functions and connect
Ing points, whether on the same or differ
ent roads.
'Eleventh-It seems already apparent
that the limit OF expenditure uNtu W NV
existing law for The expenses OF this
board is too low for It's most effective
operation. The complete administration OF
the duties of this or any other similar
commission would necessitate the employ
ment Of two or more inspectors, a civil
engineer with special knowledge of and
experience In bridge construction, anu
also one or more mechanical and electrical
engineers, the employment of such expert
assistants being contemplated by the ex-
isting law
''The appropriation now made under the
law Is insufficient to provide for the per-
nanent employment of such engineers Of
high standing and recognized ability, and
IT Is believed that engineers without these
qualifications should not be employed. The
board has been able to employ two com
known firm of expert bridge engineers to
assist in the inspection of bridges. Addi-
tional expert ASSISTANTS. no matter how al,
vantageous It's services would be, could
not be employed under the limited appro-
~prlatlon now allowed by the law"