Evening journal., 1913-12-19
Interstate Commerce Body
Says Companies Pay Too
Much Attention to Cash
Register
rs PER CENT OF WRECKS
DUE TO EMPLOYEES
BY The United Pres


the Interstate Commerce Commission in
IFS annual report to Congress
Laying upon human islibhity and
negligence the blame for much OF the
railroads death harvest, the (. G.. {.
nevertheless took severely 20 task rail.
road managers and underling- charged
with train operation
Nearly sevcnt fcm per cent. OF inc
total wrecks Investigated bv the com.
mission were charged directly to en-.
ploles mistake Tho commission eaia ;.
"Lithor a great majority of these de.
plorable railroad disasters are ma,oil-
able OF there exists widespread laci, Of
intelligent and 'Nel.drected tIort to
minimize the mistakes - employees m
the operation Of trains. u Is not be-
Tic ed that al those nccilcrts which are
causod by the mistakes of cmploycs are
unavoidable II is quite true That man
Is uronc 20 error and Ms lnne as ahso-
lutc reliance rs placed mon tho human
element in the operation Of trains. acci.
dents are hound 10 occur, hut until Il can
be shown that all reasonable and
proper measures have hcon taken Tor rs
prevention no accident can be 'lassed
as unavoidable. NJ the mistakes noted
arc violations ~ simple rules which
should have hccn easily understood hy
men of sufficient intelligence 10 be en-
trusted with the operation of trains
Then the commission turncd 20 the
responsibility of rairoal companies.
"Ihc evidence the report declared.
lis That in mnny casts operating oill-
Gers are cogniz,Nt OF this habitual dis
regard Of rules aud no proper steps arc
taken 10 correet the evil On very man,
RAILROADS there i little or no systcm nf
in,rcction or Supervision Of the work of
train eervitc employees so lar as pertains
to those mnttcis which vitally affect
safety
This lack OF supervision and inspec
ticn is uncNplainablc when the careful
supervision Of an matters directly at
foctiuy tho revenue of the voad~ is con
-iacrei
"The auditing and checking system
used for detecting the dishonesty of
employees are marvels of ingenuity
and careful attention TO de'ail but
means OF determining whether trains
are operated inaccordance with re-
ouhements OF safety and in conforms
ity with the rules are almost entirely
lacking"
Tho report pointed out that rail
- roads seek 10 economize by careful
= inspections on oil. fuel. supplies ant
airhral.s for economy but neglect
oihor considerations which would ac
tually result In greater savings. moi
cniy IN finances. but in human life.
1T would seem that adequate in
spcction and supervision of the work
OF employees to insure safety in opera
tion would be amply justified from
the standpoint of economy alone" the
report declared.
The commissioners recommended
Standardization OF operating rules by
federal legislation to bring about sa-
fer railroading
Flagging by inexperienced men. dis
obedience OF signals and overspeed-
ing we're urged as other main causes
= OF accidents. The commission report
ed in favor of use Of automatic train
a control systems. when found perfect
g and for wider use Of steel cars. found
in the past year to be great safe
guards against heavy loss of life
Further it asked that Congress give
greater power over inspection of rail
way and rails as a preventative meas
n ure against wrecks.
Vigorous enforcement of the Ellxin,
y and Hepburn acts has led to a decid
ed decrease in violations. the repor
continued. although much evasion b,
shippers was noted along with failure
of railroads TO collect proper demur
rage charges in order to get aroun'
these laws.
The Commissioners asked that Con
M gress provide explicitly the right I,
the board to examine papers ans
books needed in the prosecution o
n its work against railroads.
In commenting on its fourth sectioi
cakes, the Commission held that
town or city should have the bencfi
OF its natural location. but not of an
Undue preference conferred by car
N riers.
Regulation o, accounting systems L
prevent railroads frcm reporting mis-
Is leading figures viii soon be under
taken. the report declared.
Under the safety appliance division
the report noted the killing OF 10
employees f. coupling cars and score
u railroads for failure to inspect prop
erly their safety device equipment.
. The boards recommendation for
" minimum fine Of 500 Tor violations q
the hours-of-scrvice act was repeated
M NiAH nHNAH'A W AhdhA IT UAlQiiAh QIO
the railroads to give actual causes 70
81 overwork
Preparatory work on the physics
valuation of railroads was reported
In order to void conflict betvee
It's jurisdiction over express com
panies. the board requested that it b
a relieved of regulations dealing wit
Y the parcel post.
Recommendations we're as follows
A change in the statute of limits
B tions in favor Of shippers.
An act providing that a carrie
Il shall be guilty Of rebating II it fai'
to demand payment for services
q 80 days
Erection OF suitable building q
a ten-year lease Of quarters for th
n commission.
Elimination of duplication of effo'
in judicial matters by having the l. {
C. mainly responsible in legal matter
involving rcilroad cases. rather tha
have the Department OF Justice pr,
q pare such cases.
Authority to issue orders for cor
struction and maintenance of physic,
properties of railroads. and to max
rules for their operation
Legislation upon the subject of col
troll over railway Capitalization
Renewal Of the plea for unifori