The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-05
LAWS ARE NEEDED
TOSTOP TRESPASS
Thousands Killed While Irreg-
ularly on Property of
Railways.
FINLEY SPEAKS
Tells Railroad Club That Men,
After All, Constitute Vital
Force Of Roads.

w w. F1nley, president or the south
ern Railway speaking before the Rich
mond railroad Club last night In the
auditorium of Murphy's Hotel, on the
matter of greater efficiency among
railway employees, advocated strongly
State and Federal legislation as pre-
ventive of the tremendous loss of
life yearly among trespassers on rail-
road property.
The statistics of the Interstate
| Commerce Commission show that no
/ lees than 5l.0S5 people were killed
while trespassing The property OF
the railways of this country during
tho ten years, 1902-i9i1." said Air.
Finley and that out Of the total num-
Der of people 1896. killed for the
year ended June 80. 1911. 5,2Si, or
more than 30 per cent. were trcspas-
| scrs. The railways. at an expense OF
| millions Of dollars for the installation
| of block signals, have carried the pre-
vention of collisions SO far that the
total number of passengers and en-
ployes killed in such accidents annual
| ly is only about 400. While we should
aim. through greater efficiency OF
operation. to eliminate these accidents
entirely. is 1t not worth while for the
government 10 take some action to
! stop the evil of trespassing, which costs
an average of more than 5000 lives an
, nually?'
l
In his experience OF lifetime in
| railway employ, said the speaker. he
| had become convinced that, III spite
| OF natural and human shortcomings,
railway employees a whole, consid.
| cred from the standpoint OF character
[ ana ability, were as rfiicient as any
other class of employees in the world
On the efficiency and fidslity of the en-
| ployes, declared Mr. Finley, depends
the net earning power pf the railroads
Whatever may be the demand for
Transportation, the price cannot bc
Increased without first securing gov
crnmental approval which will nj
ways be difficult thing 10 do" nc
said. As a result OF this condition
substantially the only way In which
a railway can increase the margin
between the cost of producing ,rans-
portation. and its selling price is by
Greater efficiency OF operation and
by more efficient solicitation OF
business"
In this connection, Mr.. Finley took
occasion to rap elaborate and thco-
rctica: efficiency schemes which entail
an expenditure OF more than a dollar
to save a dollar Succession Increase
of efficiency. he declared depends up
on honest intelligent work BY ON
ployes. coupled with faithful CO.
operation with fellow employees
Further development of the American
railway system. was Mr.. Finley's
statement, rests almost entirely upon
increased efficiency of employees. And
moreover he said efficiency means
more to tho employc than a job and
pay envelope. ms his promotion and
salary increase depend upon tho
growing prosperity Of his railway
Men Arc vital Quantity.
Taxing Mp the question OF railway
accidents at greater length, Mr.. Fin
Hey said that accidents were univcr-
sally the fault OF either materials
methods or men. Materials ana meth
, DDS. he added, can bc controlled. but
not SO men The efficiency and faith
flulncss Of men lie with tho men
themselves and in manner, materials
and methods also depend upon men.
as all materials must he inspected by
r lway employees and ali methods
worked out by them
Accidents, he said. are ,he hRne of
cause OF the responsibilities Tor human
life. and ca because of the enormous
pccuniary loss cntailed Yearly by
damage suits and wrecks.
Mr.. Finley was introduced TO the
Railroad Mems Club by Captain L
II Lea. local agent for the southern
Railway. who is president of the
organization. ESppa fiunton, Jr. as
soc.ate counsel for tho Southern Rail
way, spoke for few minutes After
congratulatins SIR. Finley upon hav
ing become resident o. Virginia
through the purchase Of a country
home in Fauquier county, Mr. Hunton
toon up the matter OF governmental
regulation of railways IF tho pco-
pie took an unprecedented view OF cor
.rorations." he said, Regulation OF
corporate activity would be more
rcasona BILE"
nOMphMtEc pOMECTc