The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1912-12-17
INTERSTATE COMMERCE
COMMISSION SOUNDS
SAFETY AS KEYNOTE

employees. and those recornnns da-
lions are once more presented for
confederation ~ the Congress I-nl-
t"-mlty and consistency IN Operating
rules are necessary - secure safety.
and n l. not probable that a salts
fa' tory code which VII meet the de-
Hands of modern ops rating conditions
ar Do secured without appropriate
elton by thu Federal Gov.run,nt.'
IN" Commission points out thai OK
c'ssi'e speed has been an impurtan,
!a'i"r In n2any train accidents. and
nav ,ondinons ~ safe operating are
'tt"n iEGored in the effort 20 bring
fast trains m time This = a bad
Practice. for which the travelling pub.
l.c L. largely responsiblc. and D.
sn' uld hc discontinued Adequate
r.easurcs should Doc taken 10 compel
low speed wherever conditions re-
luire - whether schedules are main
ta'fcd or not"
The total number OF casuai,ies IN
steam roads during the year ended
June 30 was lSn.123. OF which IO5S5
We're persons killed and 1898 in
jured. These figures Indicate an in
crease over the previous year OF iS9
killed and 1879 injured. or the
|, total Number OF casualties 400 rail
way employees were killed and % .3s3
injured through industrial accidents
happenings incident to railroad bust
ness. but not due TO the opc ltion OF
trains.
Wreck VIetIms
An analysis OF the figures fur
nished by the steam roads shows that
OF the number OF persons killed. BIS
were passengers. 3.G35 employees and
h.632 other persons. trespassing and
not trespassing. indicating an in.
crease of 30 in the total number OF
employees killed. decrease of - in
the total number Of passengers killed
and an increase of 1914 in the total
number of person killed other than
employees and Passengers In the last
class were many victims OF grade
grade crossings
OF the persons injured 1896 we're
passengers. li2.i42 employees and To-
1l0 persons other than passengers and
employees.
Elaborate details are given In the
report Of the routine work OF the
commission during the year. Gen
eraly. II shows a large increase. The
number OF formal complaints filed
was s55. a decrease of 1876. as com
pared with the precious year: 71>
Nn.''' WIZ AAFlfN7fAi VS. tAA itlANfaN7f' ~
l26. The commission conducted l.i5i
hearings. as compared with 9i3 the
previous year. and took 10000 pages
OF testimony.
The investigation OF rates and prac-
ticcs OF express companies which. the
report says. lis probably the most
important single piece OF WO-k over
done by the cOmmiSsiOn was practic-
ally concluded during th" wear. rs
result. says the commission. 1t
appeared that many of the practices
% ieNpress companies were utterly in
eNcusablc, that their methods we're ar
chatc and their rates discriminatory
aud unreasonable The report OF the
commission has worked a revolution
and renovation In the methods and
rates OF express companies
Similar investigations. II is indicat-
ed. are in progress ~ substitution OF
tonnage In transit. allowances to te--
Wlnal roads. weighing OF freight. is
. SUNG Of passes bills o. iading. pri-
waite cars. rates on anthracite coal
ana other important transportation
matters.
Results Of Prc5e.
Throuch evidence furnished bv the
division of inquiry - indictments
We" returned for onrnscs against
, m" act to regulate commerce. "a
against carriers - against shippers
or pIa sensers. and . against shippers
and carriers Jointly SiXty-oue uros-
ccutiDns were concluded. the total
400
The commission. in conclusion. re
news tts recommendation TO. con
Sr"S-ioual legislation providing for "A
I phN zeal valuation Of railroads. a uni
{ form Classification. q more explicit DEF
milton of fine authority OF the commits
: sion over telegraph aud telephone
Z lines and control over railway capif-
dIIatiou The report indicates The
h"ll'i "i ih" commission that addition
80 legislation 10 insure safety az rail
way travel may be- necessary. but on
/ mat subject the cpmmi sion is NOT
prepared a~ Nrt 90 make definite
recommendation
OWN. i. frNIne 90 strlLn ,r.r,-- ~.