Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-16
Employees Greatest Offenders.

The report says further that the most
disQuieting and perplexing feature in the
problem Of accident prevention is the
large proportion of train accidents caused
by dereliction of duty by the employees in
volyed The commission believes that as
a rule there are no men that have a
keener appreciation Of their responsible
ties than railroad trainmen and ensin-
men," and Yet 1t is pointed out that o5
per cent of the whole number or accl-
dents investigated were caused by mis-
takes on the part of employees
There is a disposition in some quar-
ters," continues the report, TO charge
these lamentable errors to failure OF dls-
cipIine and to hold employees whoiiy re-
sponsible for such failure. Thls Is SUI
perficial view, which contains no PROM
Use of effective remedy.
"A remarkable increase in the speed
and weight of trains within recent Years.
and the crowding of tracks ana ter
minals. caused by the movement OF an
enormously enlarged volume OF traHc'
have greatly increased the duties and re-
sponsibilfties of train service employees
and multiplied the chances OF error on
their part. Notwiths landing these added
duties and responsibilities which the con-
ditions of modern railroadfng have I'M
posed upon employees the methods Of dis
cipline and regulations calculated to in
sure safety in train operation have re-
manned practically unchanged"
The total number of casualties on steam
roads during the year ended June 30
was $780, 123, of which 10.5s5 were persons
killed and 169 SIS injured. These figures
indicate an increase over the previous
year Of 1S9 killed and 1872 injured. or
the total number of casualties. 400 rail-
way employees We're Kill and 9o,363 in
jured through industrial accidents
happenings incident to railroad business.
but not due to the operation of trains.
Express Rates Revolutionized.
The Investigation Of rates and prac-
tees Of express companies, which, the re-
port says, lis probably the most i'm
portant single piece of work ever done
by the commission" was practically con-
cluded during the year. LAS a result"
says the commission. lit appeared that
many OF the practices of express COM
panies We're utterly inexcusable. that
their methods were archaic. and their
rates discriminatory and unreasonable.
The report of the commission has worked
revolution and renovation in the
methods and rates of express companies.
Through evidence furnished by the divi-
sion Of inquiry, ninety-three indictments
were returned for offenses against the
act to regulate commerce. thirty-four
against carriers, ffty-four against ship
pers or passengers, and five against ship
pers and carriers jointly. SiXty-one
prosecutions We're concluded, the total
amount of fines assessed being 1914, 42o.
The commission, in conclusion, renews
its recommendations for congressional
legislation providing for a physical valua-
ton of railroads, a Uniform classification.
a more explicit definition of the author
ity of the commission over telegraph and
telephone lines and control over railway
capitalization. The report indicates the
belief of the commission that additional
legislation to insure safety of railway
travel may be necessary, but on that sub
ject the commission is not prepared yet
to make a definite recommendation.