The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-09-04
Wants Power to Order Safe Tn.
tervals Between Trains
Of Wooden Cars.
RIGID FEDERAL INQUIRY
Data Asked Of Pullman Com.
pany-Secret Investiga-
ton Prevented.

| came stronger to-day that the WallinG-
ford wreck on the New Haven will re-
suit In legislation for the protection of
passengers OF the railroads Of the United
States.
This slaughter by the railroads must
stop and we are going to see that some
thing comes out OF this wreck besides
publicity" was the comment Of Inter-
state Commerce Commissioner McChord.
who has charge OF the inquiry into the
New Haven disaster.
As one Of the first steps in this general
inquiry the Interstate Commerce Commits
| sion to-day called on the Pullman COM
pany to submit a statement showing the
number OF cars Of wooden and steel con-
| struction In Its entire service.
Assurances were given BY the commits
sion that the investigation to be conducted
into the New Haven wreck which will be-
gin on Friday morning will be most
thorough. The commission announced
late this afternoon that the cars In the
wreck were not destroyed until the COM
missions inspectors had made an ex-
animation.
Hear Of secret InvestiYstion.
Early to-day the commission. however.
had received an intimation that a secret
investigation was being made by the
Coroner at New Haven and the Federal
commissioners Immediately took steps to
head 1t OF. Commissioner McChord d.
rected Chief Inspector Belknap. who was
on the scene of the wreck. to insist upon
being present at all sessions Of tine
Coroners inquest. The inspector was in
structed further 10 wire Immediately to
Washington II any obstacles were placed
In his way. He was assured that the
commission would back him with all its
power.
Belknap was instructed also to have
inspectors present at any investigation
which the railroad might make. Appar-
emily the commission Is suspicious that
any secret investigation by the railroads
may include a coaching of the witnesses
preparatory to the formal inquiry to be
held by the Federal authorities.
Chairman McChord early to-day re-
ceived this message from Mayor Fitz-
gerald OF Boston:
In View OF to-day'~ accident on the
, New Haven road. Is there not some way
: In which the Pullman company can be
|
, this company cannot plead poverty Of
, resources Millions OF Its present capital
= gift to stockholders last twenty years.
Am sending same telegram to Massachu-
setts Public Service Commission. but In
asmuch as Pullman business largely in
, terstate business. think your board proper
authorit! To suggest legislation"
: Asks for PulImau Data.
Before he received this telegram Com
missioner McChord had wired to the gen
, eral manager OF the Pullman company at
Chicago rs follows:
commission desires your company TO
furnish statement at the earliest posi-
BILE date showing number Of cars used in
passenger train service. number of such
q cars OF wooden construction OF all steel
construction and OF steel underframe
construction: also number Of cars now
under construction and proportion Of
same OF wood. steel and steel under
frame. This information imperatively
needed for use New Haven wreck investi-
CATION now In progress"
Commissioner McChord sent a reply Ia
Mayor Fitzgerald informing him OF what
he had already done.
This il the message which Commis
sioner McChord sent to Inspector Bel
knap AT New Haven
Have man at all meetings of Coroner
or railroad regarding wreck to get wha,
is said and done, Our reports indicate
secret Investigations being held"
In speaking of what may be done "a
safeguard the life OF passengers as a re-
suit of this wreck Commissioner Nc
!. Chord said:
Il think that legislation should be
modelled after the safety appliance law
passed n number OF years ago That law
required that all roads should COM
r pietely equip themselves with certain ap-
pliances by q nxed date: but authority
was left to the commission on proper
showing. and with certain restrictions. to
/, extend the time for particular roads
That law proved very satisfactory in op-
Grafton.
SuxGests Federal Control.
n I'm the case OF a road operating wooden
I | cars there should be authority for the
y commission TO impose necessary re-
9 strictions OH its train operation. We could
e say to the New Haven. for instance:
"'You are running very fast. heavy
trains with intervals OF seven or eight
. minutes between them That IL too dan
gerOue When WOOuen cars are useu ITains
of this class must be run further apart
}. perhaps at twelve or fifteen or twenty
minute intervals, as we should de-
ternine necessary after investigation
q Also the speed of these trains must bt
:. brought down to "A safe point. NO long a,
!, wooden cars remain In the service
a I'VE will before this In ended investi
. gate the entire question OF comparative
:, cost Of steel and wooden cars. their re-
spective lives In the service, the capacity
Of the country's manufacturers to turI
them out and other details. l understan nj
that the cost Of the steel car In Rbou
one third more than OF wooden car o.
like capacity. but we have no detailed
data.
o Neither do we know how long carr
OF each type will last or which IL tn
% cheaper In the LONG run. My understa nd
"a ing 10 that the steel cars have not been II
" vogue long enough to give an accurat
'e answer to the question Of their lifetime o
service. On the New Haven, though w
II Cssttmwsd on Second Pags.