Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-12-19
LEGISLATION URGENT
TO REMEDY SITUATION
Emphasizes Necessity Of Addl-
tional Powers Over Physical
Construction and Operation
Of American Railroads.

rms LEASED Wire 10 Evening IIernid.l
Washington. December ie.--Em-
phasiainE the necessity for further
action by the federal government TO
i.roeidn greater safety for travellers
sd employvs= .-f,ur American rail-
roads. the Interstate Commerce Corr
mission. IN ~ annual report, sub
miited to congress today. makes Wig
otous recommendation for addition
- powers over ths physical constrdc-
lion and operation 81 the roads. The
commission also recommends that y
..e given authority 20 supervise the
lesue Of railroad securities and some
h>enaure Of control over the capitali-
safSse.
Commissions disclosed by the COM
mluion'a Investigation of rafroad ac-
tidenta during she year, present a
i.tuation which. the commission be-
lcvea. ought 10 BE- the subject 81 Inn
mtalaie legislation. seventy-six acsi-
dents investigated comprised fifty one
90 llisions and tSenty-five derailments
and CAUSED the death Of asa and the
injury o. $50 persons
commens.ne upon these facts, the
report Rays.
The commission again is COM
noliec 10 note the exceedingly large
proportion ~ train accidents due 90
Gorrliction d duty on the part Of
employees Fifls-s.x OF the accidents
Investigated during the year or
nearly "A par cent ~ she whole num-
h.r, acre directly caused By mistakes
1T employees. These mistakes were
a the same nature as those noted by
tie commission In iis iaat annual re-
Ens. namely, disregard Of fixed sig
nails. improper naggins; failure %
hey train orders; improper check
ing Of train register, mlsundefsiand-
ing ~ orders; occupyiuE main track
On slime 81 superior train, dispatcher
gave lap order 0r used improper form
az order, operator made mistake in
copying order. switch ielt open in
face az approaching train. excessive
speed. failure 20 identify train thar
wna met.
Theaa errors are exactly the ones
which figure ia the causes ot train
accidents year after year Their per-
setCnce leading always % the Same
borrowing results. points inevitably 20
iho truth ~ one or the other 81 the
following alternatives Either q great
majority 81 these dcplorablo railroad
disasters are unavoidable or there
* SITS widespread lack Of inieili.
gent end weil-dlrcctcd effort 90 mint
mige the mistakes 81 employees in fh'
81 Grafton Of iruins II u not believed
that all those accidents which ar'
caused b. the mistakes % employees
hla unavoidable. II iB quite iru'
fhnt man IN prone 90 error. and "a
long IS absolute reliance b. place.
uB0n the human element In ta'
operation ~ trains accidents az
hound % occur, hui until Il can Do
shown that aii reasonable and prOpel
measures have been taken for IA
prevention no accident can boz classes
a. unavoidable
"Ali ~ the mistakes noted aboy,
arc violations ~ simple rules. which
ihould have been easily understood
by men 81 sufficient intelligence %
he infrustfd with the operation o'
tr8.ns The evidence Do that Goa th'
main ina rules are understood hu
thee are habltuaily violated De- en-
piayees who are charged with re-
spopsiblilty Tor ghe safe movement 81
Trains Tho evidence also b. that 10
many cases operating officers arr
cotnixaut ~ this habiiual Disregard
~ rules and 40 proper steps ar'
taken tO correct the Gym Man'
nn1fatins offiecrs seem m proceed
nnon mo theory that thcir re'
sDonsshiliiy ends with tho promulga