New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-11

Washington, July 10-The Interstate
Commerce Commissions report OF its in
vestigation OF the New York. New Haven
& Hartford passenger train wreck at
Stamford. Conn. on June II. prepared by
Commissioner McChord, declares the
whole evidence justices the following CON
illusions:
THE engineman Of second No. % tthe
wrecked train, Engineer Doherty, did
not have the special experience and in
| struction required for the operation OF
| such a train.
The New York, New Haven g. Hart
ford Railroad Company had no reliable
method for determining the capacity OF
eneinemen before placing tthem IN
charge Of high speed passenger trains
There was negligence on tho part OF
the corporation in putting in charge OF
such a train as second No. So an on
aineman inexperienced and uninstruet-
ed in this class Of work.
This railroad has no proper system OF
checking work reports so as TO deter
mine whether or not defects reported on
locomotives are actually repaired. This
| lack Of supervision Is dangerous, and 1t
ought not 10 he permitted 10 continue.
The distant signal at Stamford is too
near the home signal and should be at
least 200 feet distant therefrom.
Steel Equipment Urged.
Modern steel equipment FOR high
sreed passenger trains should be Installed
/ al the earliest possible time. as recon-
mendcd in previous reports Of this COM
mission. and legislation fixing such time
should be enacted without delay
Tho general conclusions, written by
| Commissioner McChord. include the fol-
| loving statement:
Establishment Of safer and more ef-
fieient operation Of this railroad is i'm
nediately necessary IL Congressional
LEGISLATION extending the scope OF gov
| ornamental regulation Of railroads Is not
/ 10 be called for and justified in the IN
terests Of public safety
The report reviews cxhaustlvely the
evidence developed at hearings and at
tho Coroner's inquest. and says In part:
! Tho direct cause Of this accident was
the failure OF tho cngineman on second
No q to apply the air brakes I'm time 10
atom the train before reaching the homo
signal. This failure was the result OF an
| error In Judgment on the part OF the en-
eincman. due TO his lack ~ experience In
handling high speed passenger trains
and the absence of instructions regard
! ing the proper method Of handling his
| train.
THE responsibility for placing an in
experienced and uninstrueted engine
man in charge Of a high speed passen-
aer train rests with the operating Of
ficers OF the New York, New Haven g.
Hartford Railroad Company.
Train Brakes Not Efficient
contributing causes of the accident
were the improper location OF the dis
tant signal at Stamford and the fact that
! tho train brakes were not as efficient rs
the requirements OF safety demanded on
train Of that character.
! las 10 the effort 10 place blame for this
accident upon the engtnemen's working
called 10 the rules laid down in that
| agreement:
Rule ] OF Article 9-Spare engineers
! shall be run first I'm and first out so far
as II is possible with the requirements
OF the service and when engineers are
assigned 10 temporary vacancies they
shall remain on same. provided they are
, competent. until the regular engineer re-
turns. They shall receive rates OF regu-
lar engineers while ON the road
Rule /. as amended. exception C-No
engineer who has less than one years
roster rating as an engineer shall be al
lowed 10 run through passenger trains.
This rule has two plain and definite
exceptions: First, so far as it is possible
with the requirements of the service. :
| and. second. Provided they are compe-
| tent
Primarily the determination Of % the
requirements of the service and ~ com
/ potency Of engineers is for the manage
ment OF the railroad. The most import
ant requirement Of the service is the
| safety requirement
Reliable System Lacking.
"ln this case IL is shown that no re-
liable or effective system was in op-
Grafton for the determination Of the
safety requirements Of tho service in
the selection Of an ensineman for a
particular service, or for the determi.
nation OF the competency Of an en-
gineman when he was first given a
high speed passenger train.
"rhe neglect OF precautions for safety
was here neglect upon points which the
| engincmens agreement left open to the
management
THE mere absence OF demerit marks
while in freight service was considered a
good record. sufficiently determined to
Justify employment on fast passenger
trains, class OF service requiring the
highest degree OF qualification. No de-
termination of special qualification for
higher grade of service was made.
The agreement with the enginemen In
no manner restricts examination or COM