New-York tribune., 1912-12-17
Federal Action Urged.

To prevent railroad collisions adequate
ioaas1rtS must bc taken first 10 reduce
the chances OF human error TO a minimum.
and second, 90 ueutrallze the eHecl5 oi
uch error when 10 occurs. Ihe IeCoIl-
mer1atiOus previously made by the com
mission for legislation requiring = me
naturalization OF operating Tults aHu t.le
rse OF the block system were designed 10
reduce the probability of mistakes ol en-
Goyes and those recOmhend5u 5uoIi7 az
once moro presented for consideration on
zoe Congress Uniformity ana consistency
10 olerating rules are necessary 40
secure safety and DO IS not proDa'le ihdt
ztsfactOvy code which VIII meet the
ismands OF modern operating conditions
IN be secured without appropriate acuoH
the federal government.
The commission points out that eSces-
sys speed has been an important factor
IN many train accidents, and that 'condl-
lions Of safe operation are often ignored
b the effort 10 bring fast trains IN on
tine This is g bad practice, for when
the travelling public is largely respon-
sel., and II should be discontinued. Ade-
gaate measures should be taken TO COM
pl low speed wherever conditions re-
saire &C. whether schedules are main
ialned or not"
The total number NJ casualties on steam
roads during the year ended June 30 was
~.l2, Of which 1855 We're persons killed
and lGs 58 Injured These figures indicate
an Increase over the previous year OF ls5
Killed and 1879 injured. OF tho tota'
humber Of casualties. 400 railway en-
hoyes were killed and 1885 injured
ssough Industrial accidents happen
,ss incident to railroad business out not
80 70 tho operation of trains.
~ analysis Of the figures furnished by
uf steam roads shows that OF the num-
of Of persons killed 51s were passengers.
80 employee and 6G32 other persons
ue'passing and not trespassing. indicat-
Ag an increase Of 30 In the total number
y employees killed a decrease Of IS in the
N'al number of passengers killed. and
81 increSse OF I9i In the total number OF
F'Aons Killed other than employees ana
.e'sehgers. ln the last class were many
'~uns Of grade crossings.
VI tne persons injured. 1886 were pas
users' lA2,4i2 employees. and lc.l0 per-
other than passengers and employees.
ne lnves'ieation OF rates and prac-
's Of express companies. which. the re-
t says, 'is probabl' the most impor-
Z" single piece Of work ever done by the
'anission." was practically concluded
wing the year "As "A result" says the
.Anission, "it appeared that many OF
Practices Of express companies were
'efiy inexcusable. that their methods
~ archaic and their rates discrimina-
'' ana unreasonable. The report Of the
~nmlsson has workeHa revolution and
'0'atlon in the methods and rates OF
"press companies"
'he commission in conclusion. renews
- recommendations for legislation BY
J, s'ess providing for physical valu-
~" OF railroads. "A uniform classifica-
~ more explicit definition Of the au-
,sV Of the commission over telegraph
- "iephone lines and control over rail-
a, capitalization. The report indicates
H. 'eisI OF the commission that addi-
-. iesisiation 10 insure safety Of rail-
,'h. usVel may be necessary. but on that
~ Inc Commission is not prepared 70
oehnitc recommendation.