The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-12-19
l. 6. G., IN ANNUAL REPORT INSISTS UPON GREATER SAFETY
 FOR RAIL WAY PASSENGERS

the attention of the Congress, with the suggestion that these many fail ures indicate the necessity for the de- velopment and perfection of some sys- tenn of automatic train control to be used in connection with existing sig nal systems. High speed was an important con tributing cause Of several serious ac- cidents during the past year. On many roads there is no limit to the speed at which passenger trains are allowed to run.
 'tEnginemen are thus encouraged to run their trains at excessive speed in effort, to make up time lost on schedules that are in many cases all ready sufficiently fast for safety. Such high speed is especially dangerous in times of fog or storm, when signals can be seen but a comparatively short distance. The maximum allowable speed of trains on all roads should be established. at g. safe limit and it should not be left entirely to the jIdg- | ment of engiaemen to determine whether or not this limit is exceed ed.
 'Inasmuch as the only purpose of investigation, the report continues l s'ts to learn the true causes Of aee1- dents, so that such causes may be eliminated as fully as practicable, it 1 is manifest1y impossible for the Com mission fully to accomplish such pur- pose unless empowered by law to en- force it's recommendations. Further more, the Commission should be au- thorized to conduct independent in- vestigations with respect to all mat ters affecting the safety of railway | travel, the object being to prevent ae- cidents & far as possible rather than, as at present, merely to point out the causes of accidents after their occur renee. There is particular need for an investigation of the conditions sur rounding the use of steel rails and car wheels upon railroads" Among the important reeommenda- tions for new legislation are the fol- lowing:
 That one period be fixed for the be ginning of all actions relating to transportation charges and that that period be within three years from the completion of the service as to which damages are claimed. That carrier which fails to de- mand payment of charges for any transportation service within a period Of 90 days shall be deemed guilty of giving a rebate to the shipper. That all suits brought to enforce or set aside orders of the Commission be directly under the supervision of the Commission, instead of. as now, under the direction of the Department of Justice; and that the Commission be charged primarily with the duty of presenting such cases in court sub ject to the right of the Department of Justice or private individuals to in tervene to protect public or private | interests
 That the Commission be authorized 1 to make orders after investigation, : respecting the construction and main l tenance of the .yphysical properties of railroads engaged in interstate com :, taining to the use and operation of such properties
 | That the Commission be given con- trol and supervision over railway cap lita1ization.
 | That, further to minimize the dan ger of accidents, the Commission be empowered ito require the use of block signal systems and to require the adoption and use of steel or steel underframe cars in passenger ser vice.
 That explicit authority be given the | Commission to examine all books and papers of common carriers subject to the law.
 That the Commission be relieved of all duties under the parcel post law,
 'or that such duties and the standards 1 to be applied be more clearly stat ed.''
 The report gives some consideration to the law providing for physical val uation of railways. Up to the pres ent time it has not been possible to
 
 plans for the great task of valuing American railroad property. 1 The report shows that the work of the Commission increased tremen 1ous- ly in volume Scores of violations of the law by both carriers and ship pers were investigated. In this con- nection the report says that the false billing of freight by shippers con tinues."
 l It is pointed out that serious abuses nf fTl 7CIf and shippers constitute continuing
 evil, remedy for which is being work ed out by the Commission.
 Failure on the part of carriers to collect from shippers certain demur- rage charges was made the subject
 of many investigations, because this is regarded by the Commission as one of the most insiduous forms of rebat- ing. Stress also is laid upon viola tions of the anti-pass law, but the re- bort indicates that these are becoming g less and less frequent.