New-York tribune., 1909-03-01
TO LESSEN ACCIDENTS
p. s. BOARD PLANS RULES.
Com pIeting Collection of Data Coz
ering Conditions Throughout State.
Isv Telegraph 20 Ens Tribune ]


Albany, Feb 2S-with a view TO eliminating a
large percentage Of accidents, believed 70 be due
faulty equipment and disregard OF companies
rules the upstate Public Service Commission has
taken Up the important problem OF outlining rules
and regulations governing the operation OF steam
and electric railroads and the practices o. employees
thereon. It Just completing the collection Of a
great mass Of data covering conditions on every
railroad and trolley system in its jurisdiction
Hearings will be held soon. at which operating off,
cials OF the roads and employees will be summoned
to tell OF everyday conditions falling under tner
observation.
The information hand has caused the commits
sion 10 decide that the employees themselves are the
chef sufferers from existing conditions Trans
porta OF passengers on the steam roads- COM
pared with the number and kind of accidents 70
employees. is remarkably safe. and the same Is true
in only a sghter degree regarding the electric
roads But the employees. from habitual disregard
Of imperfect operating rules, faulty equipment or
other cause bear the bruRt Of accidents which
der different conditions could 6e prevented in very
many cases.
In connection with the rules for operation which
The commission expects 10 promulgate result
this inquiry it hopes TO put into effect q much
rigid inspection Of operation and equipment or
both classes Of roads. 1t viii ask the Legislature
provide funds to increase the number or in
spectors electric roads. the number OF equip
ment inspectors. and TO employ al least two IN
spectors devote heir time entirely to investigation
the OF accidents The commission Eas in
mind not that the state should do the railroad
companies inspection work. but that this commits
sion should be in a position to know that that
work being done accurately and properly
Under orders adopted by the commission, each
steam railroad and electric line has furnished TO
the commission copies Of all printed rules govern
fng employees IN the operation OF the road state
ments to what inquiry or examination is made
before the employment OF men for various grades
OF work or for promotion higher different
lines OF employment; what methods are used 10
ascertain II the operating rules understood and
obeyed by the employees. and what measures are
undertaken 10 make those rules effective: what
records ara kept OF violations. of the rules and
general information bearing on these subjects
These orders. in circular FORM We're distributed
generally and brought from railroad conductors,
frenen and engineers hOwls Of protest because the
commission indicated the belief that disregard or
hebitUsi disobedience of company rules or customs
caused a great part of the accidents But inter
views with members Of the commission and other
communications showing the desire OF the commits
sion improve conditions so that employees would
be protected properly in the course Of their duty
so changed their sentiment on this subject that
only & few days ago delegations representing the
engineers the frernen and the conductors called at
the offices Of the commission here and expressed
their srpreciation Of the policy OF the commission
in this respect Further. the railroad employees
pledged their support before the legislature Of the
commissions effort 10 obtain adequate Inspection
facilities
roads were investigated by the commissions in
spectors last year of which the inspectors said in
a general report;
AT least 90 per cent Of the serious accidents on
electric railroads in this district the result Of
lack Of proper equipment failure OF equipment de-
fective rules and methods OF operation violation
Of rules. Not than 10 per cent Of tho acci-
dents are caused by defects in ira OK Toadbed.
Inspectors OF steam railroads made this state
I ment.-
In most cases the accidents investigated were
found TO have been caused by the failure OF en-
! ployes to obey operating rules"
The commission hopes. after digesting the infor-
nation in the reports from the railroads ard cleo
tic lines now at hand and the information be
obtained from hearings be able 10 prepare sets
Of rules for the steam roads and the trolley com
panies which would 1T conditions better than the
more or less imperfect or lax rules OF the roads
themselves These rules having been adopted and
put into effect by order. IL would be up the
panies TO compel their employees 10 i've up them
while the commissions inspectors reported on the
conduct of the companies and their employees under
z,sch regulations Under The Public Service Com
missions law the companies would be liable for
persecution If found violating those orders-s diff
ferent state Of affairs anything which ex-
listed prior the passage Of that law. In the
. missions Judgment though. two things impera-
tive-increase Of the inspection forces and change
in the law permit inspectors TO ride any
train or parts Of trains at any time 10 observe
equipment and conduct OF employees and A further
amendment 10 give the inspectors power in their
! Investigations administer oaths and summon
vyitnesses-for lack OF which the commission deems
they have been handicapped in the past.