The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-09-04
HOLD SECRET INQUIRY

CONTINUED from First Page)
steel cars. in view Of this latest accci-
dent. and pointing out that the COM
pany was wealthy, and could afford to
do this.
In speaking OF what may be done to
safeguard the life of passengers. as a
result of this wreck, Commissioner
McChord said:
Il think hat legislation should be
modelled after the safety appliance law
passed a number of years ago. That
law required that all roads should
completely equip themselves with GER
tain appliances by n nxed date; but
authority was left to h commission
on proper showing n with certain
restrictions. to extend the time for
particular roads. That law proved
very satisfactory in operation.
Use OF Wooden Ears.
'In the case of a road operating
wooden cars. there should be author
ity for the commission to impose ne
cessary restrictions on its train opera
ton. We could say TO the New Haven,
for instance;
"'You are running very fast. heavy
trains. with intervals OF seven or
eight minutes between them. That
is too dangerous when wooden cars
are OSeQ. Trains OK ILLS t!dSS AtA~i
be run further apart. perhaps at
twelve or fifteen or twenty-minute in
~tervais, according as we should deter
mine necessary after investigation.
Also the speed of these trains must be
brought down to a safe point. so lonE
as wooden cars remain In the SER
vice.
I'VE will. before this Is ended. in
vxestigate the entire question OF com
parative cost of steel and wooden cars.
their respective lives in the service
the capacity of the country's manu-
facturers to turn them out, and other
details"
Commission Takes Hand.
Vice-Presidena Hustis, who came 10
New Haven yesterday with President
Elliott. saii frankly that he consider
ed 1t inadvisable that the testimony
should he made public. but that. at
the same time. he would approve OF
such a course IL 1t were agreeable TO
the county officials.
Much gtress was laid by those
arguing for secrecy In the present
hearing upon the fact that the In
set the beginning Of ITS official IN
uuiry into the wreck for Friday morn
ing. 49,.
When word Of the secrecy which
| the New Haven county officials are
spreading about the details OF the
| catastrophe had reported Washington
instructions were sent Immediately 10
Chief Inspector Fl. w. Beiknap, al
ready on the scene to insist upon
being allowed TO be present at all In
quiries held in New Haven, includ-
ing the coroner's inquest. 1t was un-
derstood hat 1t Is not intended thai
Mr.. Belknap shall demaAd admission
TO the inquest IL all railroad officials
also are excluded. but tht II anyone
outside the coroner and stenographers
and witnesses Ia admitted the repre-
sentative of the interstate commercs
commission shall be present also.
Inspector Howard. of the Interstate
commerce commission staff. CHANGED
TO be in worcester. on his way x
Boston, when the news ann Of tin
wreck yesterday morning. He changes
his plans at once. and came to New
Haven. visiting the wreck yesterday
Mr.. Beiknap arrived this morning
and with Howard and Engineer Ell
well. went over the ground together
Commissioner G.. c. MeChord fs en-
pected here tomorrow night. or earl,
Friday. ready 20 start tbs c0Hmis
: sion's inquiry.