Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-06-04
RAILROAD SLAUGHTER CHECKED

kAIlkUAU SlAU6n On OuCOAcU
GOOD Work Of Railroad Commission
Under its increased Po~ers--Fre-
ousocv Of Accidents Lessened and
Grester Safety Of Travel Assured.
II is pretty well known that at the last
session OF the legislature additional pow
ers were given the railroad commission,
but to what extent such provision has
operated toward making travel by rail IN
Vermont more safe. or how far the con-
veniences OF such travel have been made
tc conform to the requirements OF health
and the reasonable speed of journeying,
the public has not heretofore been in
formed. That such IL the case 10 not due
to any disposition of the railroad COM
mission to withhold from the public
knowledge properly belonging to II. but
rather to the fact that great and impor-
tant work has been SO quietly and SO
easily done that public attention has not
been called TO the matter in specific cases.
Indeed, the powers of the commission
have been made so ample that railroads
as a rule have needed the requests OF the
commission rather than await its orders
Had the commission been obliged TO
apply its power as a court. and il IL
court under existing law, in the nume--
GUS cases wherein its request has been
sufficient, the public would be fully
aware of its activities.
In its relations to the railroads, the
travelling public is most OF all interested in
7 the safety of railroad travel. In the not
far distant past, the frequency OF acci-
dents upon one OF Vermonf's principal
railroads became matter of csusiic CON-
ment IL not one of actual anxiety and
alarm. While more CT those accidents
reached the dimensions Of a "raii~sy
horror" the most OF them approached TO
! the very line where q so-cslied LUCKY ac-
cident'' ends and an appalling destruc-
ton of human life begins. This state of
affairs will be remembered by everybody
who had occasion TO travel by that rail-
road line, and during the period, IL no
disaster enfailing large death list result
ed, il certainly was not due TO the roads
heaviest and best passenger trains not
frequently leaving the rails or that the
running service was at all times free from
a carelessness inconsistent with the safe
ty of travel.
At a time Immediately following a sue
cession OF accidents, il was observed that
high officials OF the railroad here referred
to, accompanied by the roads most inn
portant legal advisers, descended upon
1 Montpelier from the directors car nf the
rOda anu ldu Hfhalt tOnAtff1If
the railroad commission at the lstter's
room in the state house. II then leaked
out that the conference related to the con-
ditions that occssioned such frequent sc-
cidents and, although just what tran
spired at the meeting has never been
made public, the infrequency Of accidents
since that time leads to very definite con-
illusions. Had the commission been
made up Of weak men, no doubt the dan
gerous neglect could have been continued
even in the existence of the commissions
ample powers. But, apparently, the rail-
road knew with whom il had TO deal and
wasted no time in sitting up and taking
notice The apparent results have been
as follows:-
The railroad very soon settled a trou-
blesome strike that had long existed in
its mechanical department, certain
changes were made in responsible heads
in that department, and better average
service in its telegraphic operating force
at many stations was effected. The re-
suit of these changes due to the unequiy-
ocal attitude of the commission has been
that trains have been run approximately
near to the timetable and that careless
ness in the handling of trains from every
point of responsibility has been in large
measure eliminated, with the consequence
that accidents on that line have been Of
no mepacing import for the better part of
a year. These facts argue but one thing
and that is that railroad travel in Yer
mont has become safer, that there is q
better protection OF life aud limb guaran-
teed the travelling public, because OF an
existing authority before whose mandates
the railroads must bow.
i Can the state afford any course that in
any way can weaken this force to which
the powerful railroad corporations must
yield? Should it by any misunderstood
action place in the executive office-the
Office that holds the appointing power in
all the states commissions-any man for
whose elevation the railroads are now
clsmoringf Should a policy that euaran-
tees, SO far as foresight and regulation
can guarantee, the safe return of loved
ones to the home circle after entrusting
their lives to the railways. be weakened
in the slightest degree or for q moment
placed where there can be chance for
such weakening? With the piiabIe STAN
ton in the goyernorship, him for whom
the railroad support is now cast. with
what strength would this policy be MAIN
tanned in such extent as the governors
appointiye power could reachf
In all this a most vital question con-
fronts the voters of the state. Indeed.
there Is none more vital Shall the effect
iveness present authority over the
railroads be maintained by the election
to the governorship of Lieut.-Go George
II. Prouty, whose attitude upon the case
is positive and incorporating, or shall
all the good that has been accomplished
and the needs of the immediate future
be risked By the election of the railroads
own candidate, himself railroad COM
missioner in the old meaningless DAYS.
Zed 5. Stantonf That is question of
no secondary importance. II IL one that
the people should ask OF themselves and
OF each other, as upon answer much de-
ponds.
The nomination of George H. Prouty
for governor is assured by q large MAORI
ty. careful canvass Of the state shows
that he leads in every county except
Washington, and in that county he viii