Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-09-16
wzsHINcTQA LETTER
RY Her lllM Star STAFF
WALKER A1lAssliRE SPoNDENT
ALEssoN IN MONOPOLY

y
any sort of signal system or other
safety device.
For several years the commission
did have the power to order rail-
roads to adopt certain kinds of safety
devices. but Congress took that power
away, aud left the commission unable
to do anything further than make
recommendations Seven years ago
| the Senate voted down an amend
ment proposed to the Hepburn rate
law. ordering all railroads to be
gradually equipped with approved
automatic signal systems. There has
never been a vote taken on the. pro :
posal in Congress since.
| While the New York, New Haven
and Hartford has killed and manned
several hundred passengers within
| the last two years, in avoidable acci-
dents, there hasn't been a serious
accident or passenger killed on
the express tracks of the New York
subways since they were put into
operation. And the subway express
trains run faster and on shorter head
way than any trains on the New
Haven and Hartford. Tho difference
Is that when a subway express train
following another gets within a GER
tain distance, an automatic signal
device shuts off the power and ap-
plies the brakes of the following
train. The same signal system is
adapted to steam railways, has been
tried out and approved. years ago,
by the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. The only reason against its
adoption by steam railroads Is its
cost.
And if Congress does order all steel
cars that won't stop accidents or
killings, SO long as the State laws
permit wooden cars to be used. Con-
gress can make laws only for inter-
state trains, those who run through
two or more States. A federal law
won't stop the railroads using any
kind of deathtraps and finder boxes
they see fit on trains that don't run
across State lines.
One of the most frequent New Jer-
sey visitors at the White House is
Congressman James Hamill, Of Jer-
sey City. He seldom stays long, is
always full of business and always
In hurry. Jimmy Hamill has the
reputation of having landed more
jobs for constituents than any other
member of Congress from his State,
but he never admits to anybody that
he is interested in patronage. When
Hamill goes to the White House, IL
Is always in connection with civil
service bill of some sort. which many
of the newspapers solemnly print, be-
cause of the fact that Hamill is a
member of the House committee on
civil service and is interested in civil
service pensions.
While Senator Hughes was WORKING
out his little plan to put Charles V.
Duffy, of Paterson. in the Newark
Internal collectorship, he went often
to the White House, but it was al
ways in connection with the tariff.
At least, so he told the reporters,
and since he is a member of the
Senate finance committee, they be-
leved him, and printed it.
For several months, Congressman.
Bob" Bremner, of Passaic. went to
the White House several times a
week. and held long talks with the
President. When the correspondents
asked him about his conferences he
gravely informed them that he and
the President had been discussing his
bill for a museum Of safety
81 got at least five stories printed
about that museum of safety bill be-
fore anybody got onto me and found
out I was looking for a job for d
friend" said Bremner, when he later
confessed to the mild deception.