The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1910-08-09
COMMISSION ASKS
CHANGES IN LAWS
Wants Sections Pertaining to
Railroads and Commission
Work RemodeIed.
ANNUAL REPORT NOW OUT
A LAW SHOULD De PASSED CIV.
ING COMMISSION AUTHORITY
TO PERMIT Refunds AND ALSO
RgPARATIoNs.
(PalIadium Specially

Indianapolis. Ind. Aug. 0.-The In
diana Railroad Commission makes re-
commendation in It's annual report.
Just published. for changes In eleven
sections Of the laws pertaining to rail.
roads and the authority OF the COM
mission in railroad affairs. The need
of increased power for the commits
sion and of requiring the railroads to
tecting the lives Of their employees and
persons required to cross the railroad
right of way are emphasized In the
recommendations. The need of keep
ing trespassers off the right Of way is
again emphasized.
The following are the recommends
tions as made:
"The railroad commission act should
be 20 amended that In proper cases the
railroad commission may intervene In
proceedings for the location. change.
or extension Of public highway over
the right of way Of q railway, outside
Of the corporate limits OF cities and
towns, when. In its judgment such 10
cation, change or extension would not
be advisable from the standpoint OF
public safety.
A Uniform Method.
"A law should be passed providing
q uniform method for presenting to
the railroads, shippers or consignees
claims against the latter; prescribing
the kind Of proofs Of claims which
should be submitted to the carrier and
imposing upon the latter the duty OF
absolutely accepting or experimenting
this proof SO far as 1t is able. The
law should also include . penal pro-
vision intended to secure prompt set
tlement Of consignees' claims against
carriers where the statutory method OF
proving the same has been followed.
"A law should be passed giving the
commission authority to permit re-
funds or reparations in case where q
shipper has acquired OF an authorized
representative of the carrier and nate
has been quoted to him by the latter
which 10 lower than the lawfully pub
lished rate; whereby the shipper has
misled to his damage.
The safety appliance law should
be 90 amended a. to provide an ade.
quats punishment for wrongful de-
struction or interference with the ope-
ration Of safety appliances used to
protect highway crossings.
"A statute should be passed to pre-
vent trespassing upon railway tracks.
and punishing all persons who use
such tracks a. . footway. We have
heretofore prepared q good bill on this
subject
THE safety appliance law should
further be SO amended a. to require
adequate and properly working hand
brakes to be placed upon all cars. both
freight and passenger. including inter-
the hand brakes should operate in
dependently Of the air of power brakes.
Amend safety Act.
"The safety appliance act should also
bs 90 amended a. to give the commits
sion authority to require the removal
near railroad tracks In cities and
towns.
"A law should be enacted providing
for the elimination Of grade crossings
throughout the state by requiring the
steam and electric railroads to sepa-
rate . specified number OF grades
each year for each one hundred miles
Of railroad or fraction thereof owned
or operated by them. The expense Of
separation should be divided between
the railroads and the counties, cities
and towns. wherein the crossings are
located according to some fair basis
to be determined by the railroad com.
mission.
The cities and towns code should
be 80 amended ~ to permit an appeal
to the railroad commission from town
boards and city councils respecting