The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-26
Aroused by Recent
Wreck, to Give Power
to Commission.
STATES NOW HAVE
POW Err TO INDICT
Attorney General McReynolds
Suggests That Millionaire Di-
rectors Be Prosecuted for
Observation-Disclosures
Explain Their Safety
Devices.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.l

Washington. September 25.-The In
terstate Commerce Commission has won
its ten-year fight to protect the lives
Of the travelling public. Congress is
going TO give 1t the power to compel
the installation of modern safety de-
vices on railroads and to regulate the
operation OF trains
Aroused by the recent wreck on the
New York. New Haven and Hartford
Railroad. and the report of the com
mission stating that IL is powerless to
enforce its recommends tions, members
Of Congress decided to-day to clothc
the commissioners with greater au-
thority.
There We're two other important de-
velopments to-day in connection with
the New Haven system.
Suggests states Prosecute.
Attorney General McReynolds sug
gcsted that the millionaire directors
OF the railroad be prosecuted for man
slaughter. He expressed doubt as to
the possibility OF action by the gov
ernlncnt on the recent disasters. but
added. This appears to involve ques-
tion OF manslaughter. and l should
think that action might be looked for
from the State authorities"
The Attorney General also made 1t
known that the Department OF Justice
has had special legal experts investi-
eating the New Haven Railroad sys-
TEN with Il view to possible prosccu-
tions under the sherman antitrust act
This inVe stigation has had nothing to
do with the recent wrecks on the rail
road. buc has dealt with the monopoly
features Of the railroad and its alleged
overinitat!on OF capital stock.
Time for RniIronds to Act.
Chairman Adamson, of the House
Committee on Interstate and Foreign
Commerce. said to-day that the rail-
roads had been given a number of
years without mandatory legislation In
which to improve their equipment to
strengthen their roadbeds. to substitute e
steel cars for wood. and to install ap-
proved safety devices and methods for
the protection of the travelling public
The committee now believes" said
-Adnmson. that IL may be proper to
give the commission power to tell the
railroads when and where they must
install safety appliances. block signals
steel cars and improvements to their
roadbeds II railroads run trains too
close together, the commission might
properly he authorized to stop the
practice"
1t is probable that n bill will he in
troduced to hold directors criminally
liable for loss OF life on their lines
Listen to Inventors.
with the luea or StrcnCthe the
railroad control laws along the lines
suggested committee. headed By Con-
srcssman stephens. New HAMPSHIRE
to-day heard inventors as Ia the merits
OF special devices. Recommendations
by this committee Will be ready at the
opening of the regular session in De-
ccnlber.
The railroad safety devices present
ed to the committee included one TO
prevent the overturning engines and
cars or derlilment and an automa ic
airbral<e that would operate to check
the speed of 4 train or stop an indi-
vidual car. no matter what the char
acter of the disaster Advocating
adoption by the railroads of these de-
vices were James Andrew. Montgom-
cry, Ala; J. +. Latham and Thomas s.
Peall. Greensboro. y. c. Bills are
pending in the Congress requiring the
railroads TO try out the devices.
You allow the Pullman Company %
charge for chairs and beds which o,iy
luxurious, taste demand" said Roy
Dent. Alabama would ii not be per-
missible to allow tho railroads to
charge 10 per cent of the fare per mile
for an appliance which would insure
the safety of life and limb"