The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-09-25
ives Names and Holds Them
Responsible for Death Of
Hundreds Killed and injured
by Wrecks
|ELIANCE OF PUBLIC
WAS NOT JUSTIFIED
len High in Railway Circles
Depended Upon to Prevent
Accident Proved False to the
Trust Reposed in Them.
Says Report

Says Report
WASHINGTON, Sept 24.-The inter
ate commerce commissions report
hitting the responsibility for the Wall
gford wreck. with It's twenty one
taiities, squarely ON the shoulders of
. management and directors of the
Nv York, New Haven and Hartford
broad, Is the harshest finding ever
nded down by that body.
The report. which was made public
day. sets forth the names of the d.
cters, beginning with William Rookie
Tier and j. p Morgan and extending
rough long list Of men well known
the financial and railroad world.
Some OF these men the commission
escrihed as having been considered
n confiding public as "fnagicians In
q art of finance and wizards in the
obstruction. operation and conseiida
pn OF great systems of railroads
sExperience has shown that this re-
snce of the public was not justified as
either finance or safety. are the
adings of the commission.
The commission finds that the direct
,ployes properly to perform their du-
rs. They charge Fiagman Murray
18th failure properly to protect his
ain. and condemn the engineers OF
kth trains for failing To control the
beed in such Way as to bring their
aims to a stop before passing the au-
(matic signals.
Herr, IL the portion Of the report
hich lays the responsibilities upon the
raeiatS-------------- -------------------------
Directors Denounced.
This commission has heretofore
kpressed in strong terms it's con-
kmration OF the management of this
lilroad
e1n reports by this commission OF
he Investigation os previous acct
knfs on this railroad, defects Of man
cement. neglect Of obvious precau-
ons for safety. ineffective rules and
bose not systematically enforced,
kgh speed trains closely following
be another without adequate safe
aards, derelictton If duty on the
srt of certain employees. as well as a
kneral Weakness of discipline. have
pen denounced and condemned.
P+-tt is astounding that this state Of
NaIrs Is allowed to continua 10 &&~
II
The report then gives the names ~
be directors If the railroad as shown
Poor's Manual for 1912. and says.
ION this directorate were, and are,
len whom the confiding public rec
gnize as magiclans in the art of A.
ance and wizards in the corstruc-
on, operation. and consolidation Of
reat systems OF railroads. The pub
c, therefore, rested secure that
ath the knowledge of the railroad
hi possessed by such men investments
nd travel should both he safe. Elk
erience has shown that this reliance
L the public was not justified as to
Their finance or safety.
.ln view of the focusing or public
ttsntion on the question sf safety
the operation of this railroad, and
view of the frequent governmental
hauiries, both national and State. as
the cause of. and remedies for. the
reauent disastrous accidents, II
,ouid seem as II the directors them
Elves would feel called upon to turn
rom the consideration OF the n
ancial questions. in which this road
involved. and fer time at least
i've the benfit OF their consideration
nd Judgment to the question OF
afety.
Tried to Shift Blame.
THE directors, however. assumed
dispose of their whole response
ility of this subject, and thereafter
i FAR as appears from the records
hadc NO further inquiry and took nc
arther action, although quick sue
ession OF these disasters continued.
This typifies the whole situation
they assumed the vote was selt-en-
prcing.
THE president. general managers
nd superintendent, issued orders
hat all rules should be obeyed, ano
Nat employees should take all precau'
ions for safety.
.But no intelligent system was de
ised BY which to ascertain whef
ules were disobeyed.
Man failure. in this case peeai
high up in official authority, ana Il
var not unnatural sequence tnat
earhed down. to those in positions
over in official rank. but still weight
d with great responsibility.
.Discfpline was weak. ana ineHec'
I've. certainly a fault of the man
Gement.
aDirectors. by law. are not mere
gureheads. nor are their duties con
II TO the mere direction or TINS
finances of corporation. Their uu'
.es are such that mere delesatiof
~ them. IL tHey are NOT, Ia AdAt' ~
ormde. does not satisfy the legal OBJ
ixation unless there has been ordi-
kary business care, and diligence n
supervision.
"By what we have said with respect
"a the duty of supervision result
NJ upon the directors and the dut,
81 managing officials to provide fol
ne safeguarding of traffic, we dc
hot mean to palliate In any deSre'
III tiisobedience Of rules by the train
men and enginemen.
When employees undertake the dan
kerous employment Of railroading, y
3 their duty to familiarize themselves
With all the operating rules Disc
be1fence OF these rules, where they arr
bpecificaliy applicable, carries with Y
kull responsibility for the conse
huences.
Elliott Exoncratcd.
ssOur reference to the management
81 this railroad in the past. pf course
< a 5PN. $3.50