New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-20
INTERSTATE BOARD
ASKS MORE POWER
Seeks Authority to Probe
All Matters Affecting
Railway Safety.
DESIRES CONTROL
OF CAPITALIZATION
Requests Right to Compel Use of
Block Signals and ALI
Steel Cars.

Washington, Dec. 19-Emphasizing the
necessity for further action by the federal
government to provide greater safety for
travellers and employees upon American
railroads the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. in it's annual report. submitted
to Congress to-day, makes vigorous rec
concentrations for additional powers over
the physical construction and operation
of the roads.
The commission also recommends tnat
It be given authority to supervise the
issue of railroad securities and some meas
ure of control over the capitalization.
Conditions disclosed by the commissions
investigation Of railroad accidents during
the year present situation which, the
commission believes, ought TO be the SUBJ
ject Of immediate legislation. Seventy
six accidents investigated comprised fifty
one collisions and twenty-five derailments
and caused the death Of 2SS and the IN
Jury of $50 persons. Commenting upon
these facts. the report says:
"The commission again is compelled 10
note the exceedingly large proportion OF
train accidents due 10 dereliction Of duty
on the part of employees. Fffty-six OF
the accidents investigated during the
year, or nearly "a per cent of the whole
number, were directly caused by mis-
takes of employees.
Wreck Causes Vary Little.
These mistakes were Of the same nat
ure as those noted by the commission
in its last annual report namely. disre-
gard of fixed signals; improper hagglng'
failure TO obey train orders; improper
checking OF train register; misunder-
standing Of orders; occupying main track
on time of superior train; block operator
allowed train TO enter occupied DOCK
dispatcher used improper form Of ORDER
operator made mistake copying ORDER
switch left open in face OF approaching
train: excessive speed.
.'These errors are exactly the ones
which figure in the causes of train ac-
cidents year after year. Their persist
ence shows that either great majority
of these disasters are unavoidable. or
there exists a widespread lack or intel
ueent and well-directed effort to minimize
the mistakes Of employees in the opera
ton of trains.
eft is not believed that all those ac-
cidents which are caused by the mistakes
of employees are unavoidable. 1t is quite
true that man is prone to error, and as
long as absolute reliance is placed upon
the human element in the operation OF
trains accidents are bound to occur, but
until il can be shown that all reasonable
and proper measures have been taken
for its prevention no acclaeht can oe
classed as unavoidable.
sa hot in 10
rules are understood. but they are habitu-
ally violated by employees who are charged
with responsibility for the safe movement
Of trains.
THE evidence also is that in many cases
operating officers are cognizant or thls
habitual disregard Of rules and no proper
steps are taken 10 correct the evil. Many
operating officers seem to proceed upon
the theory that their responsibility ends
with the PRONUNCIATION Of rules.
con very many railroads employees are
not examined GU the operating rules ex-
cept at the time of their promotion, and
only the most perfunctory efforts are
made TO determine their fitness to perform
the duties assigned TO them.
Money Put Above Safety.
This lack Of supervision and inspection
with respect to matters affecting the
safety of trains IS unexplainabe when
the careful supervision of all matters di-
rectlv affecting the revenue of the roads
is considered. The auditing and checking
systems used for detecting the dishonesty
Of enployes are marvels OF ingenuity and
careful attention to detail. but means Of
determining whether trains are operated
in accordance with the requirements of
safety and in conformity with the rules
are almost entirely lacking.
I'm previous reports the commission
has recommended legislation requiring
the Standardization OF operating rules 1t
is vital TO the safe movement Of trains
that rules should be explicit and uniform
IN character. To this end federal legisla-
lion is necessary.
"Disobedience of signal indications on
block signalled railroads is one Of the
most serious phases of the accident SIT
uation. Such disobedience often occurs
in connection with the movement OF I'M
portant high speed passenger trains.
Fourteen OF the investigated accidents
which have occurred on block signalled
roads since July /. 1911, were caused by
engtnemen running by stop signals or
IalIlnS 10 EeuuNS ePSSN ~
caution signals. In these IA accidents lo5
persons were killed and 81 injured. In Z
Of these accidents the culpable engine
men themselves were killed.
.'These facts are brought to the atten-
ton of the Congress. with the suggestion
that these man failures indicate the ne
cessity for the development and perfec-
ton of some system OF automatic train
90 bk ~, COnnerfiOIl with X
listing signal systems.
Among the important recommendations
for new legislation are the following:
That one period be fixed for the be
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