The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-12-19
BLAME FOR DEATH
HARVEST DIVIDED
Mistakes Of Employees Responsible
for rs Percent Of Disasters Bat
Managers Negligent
Report Submitted
TeIegram By unIted Press.

-ffN - -A@t ~ AHAtEu AEGDos
Washington. Dec 49, Railroads pay
too much attention to the cash register
and too little to human safety. This
was the conclusion drawn today by tho
interstate commerce commission in its
annual report to congress.
Laying upon human failibility ana
negligence the blame for much Of the
railroads death harvest, the /. C. C..
nevertheless. took severely to task
railroad managers and underlings
charged with train operation.
Nearly seyenty-four per cent of the
total wrecks investigated by the COM
mission were charged directly to EN-
ployes' mistakes The commission
said.
Either great majority Of these de-
plorable railroad disasters are un-
avoidable or there exists a widespread
lack OF intelligent and well directed ef-
fort to minimize the mistakes of en-
ployes in the operation OF trains. It is
not believed that all those accidents
which are caused by the mistakes OF
EMPLOYS are unsvoiaable. 1t Is Quite
true that man is prone to error and as
long as absolute reliance is placed up
on the human element In the operation
OF trains, accidents are bound to accur.
but until it can be shown that all rea-
sonable and proper measures have
been taken for its prevention no acct
dent can be classed as unavoidable. All
the mistakes noted are violations Of
simple rules which should have been
easily understood by men Of sufficient
intelligence to be entrusted with the
operation OF trains"
Then the commission turned to the
responsibility Of railroad companies.
~rhe evidence, the report declared,
is that in many cases operating off
GERS are cognizant Of this habitual dis
regard Of rules and no proper steps are
taken 70 correct the evil. On very
many railroads there is little or no
system Of inspection or supervision Of
the work of tram service employees so
far as pertains to those matters which
vitality affect safety.
This lack Of supervision and in.
spection is unexplainabIe when the
careful supervision Of all matters di-
rectly affecting the revenue Of the
roads is considered.
The auditing and checking system
used for detecting the dishonesty Of
employees are marvels Of ingenuity and
careful attention to detail but means OF
determining whether trains are operat-
ed in accordance with requirements Of
safety and in conformity with the rules
are almost entirely lacking"
The report pointed out that railroads
seek to economic by careful inspec-
tions on oil, fuel, supplies and air
brakes for economy, but neglect other
considerations which would actually
result IN greater savings not only in
finances but in human life.
1T would seem that adequate inspec-
tion and supervision of the work OF
employees to insure safety in orsSation
would be amply justified from the
standpoint Of economy alone" the re-
port declared.
The. commissioners recommended
Standardization Of operating rules BY
federal legislation to bring about safer
railroading.
Tagging by inexperienced men, dis
obedience OF signals and overspeeding
We're urged as other main causes OF
secidents. The commission reported
n favor Of use Of automatic train con-
troll SYSTEMS. when found perfect. and
for WIDER use Of steel cars, found in
the past year to be great safeguards
against heavy loss OF life.
Further. it asked that congress give
greater power over inspection Of read.
way and rails as preventive mea-
sure against wrecks,
Vigorous enforcement Of tie Elkins
S~44s, Il :.