Daily Kennebec journal., 1913-12-20

plalnaDle when the careful SUPERVISION
of all matters directly affecting the
revenue of the roads is considered. The
auditing and checking systems used
for detecting the dishonesty of en-
ployes are marvels of ingenuity and
careful attention to detail but means
of determining whether trains are op-
Grated in accordance with the require
ments of safety and in conformity
with the rules are almost entirely
lacking.
In previous reports the commission
has recommended legislation requlr-
ing the Standardization OF operating
rules 1t is vital to the safe moVement
of trains that rules should be expllc1t
and uniform in character, so that they
NAV be easily understood and that
there may be no doubt as to their ap-
plication. To this end federal legls-
lation is necessary.
"Disobedience of signal indications
ON block-sienalled railroads is one OF
tho most serious phases Of the accl-
dent situation. Such disobedience
often occurs in connection with the
movement of important high-speed
passenger trains, and when II results
in a collision or derailmeht hlose
deplorable casualty list is It's hlVaii-
able accompaniment. Fourteen oi .he
investigated accidents which nave oe-
urred on block -signalled ROADS slnee
July l. 1911, were caused oy aehslhe
men running by stop signals OF laii-
ing to reduce speed as directeu ny
caution signals In these IA acclaehes
los persons were killed and oll "eie
injured. In of these accidents the
culpable enginemen themselves were
killed aseuad
No adequate reason can be offered
for these serious Iapses from duty by
men who in many cases suffer aeatn
aS q consequences Frequently IL 10
hard even to suggest a plausible eA-
nIanation for the disobedlence Oh
signal indications. That they are
disobeyed. however, is fact and the
lives that are annually sacrificed from
this cause call loudly for some meahs
of arresting its results. 1he ih
disastrous accidents of TINS ehaiaeee
occur on roads equipped with nlouei" "
systems of automatic block slsnala'
where elaborate precautions TO prevent
accidents (short of guarding against
the consequences of signal dls=
ahadience1 have been taken. Inc
trains involved in these lamentaple
disasters generally are operated py
trusted employees of long experience.
But the record abundantly proves that
even splendid signal equipment ana
admirable discipline, coupled with long
experience and high moral character
on the part Of employees, can not pre-
vent the occasional man failures winch
produce such fatal results. These
facts are brought to the attention OF
the Congress, with the suggestion tla'
these man failures indicate the ne
cessity for the development and per-
fection of some system Of automatic
train control to be used in connection
with existing signal systems.
High speed was an important con-
trihutinr cause of several serious ac-
eidents during the past year. On
MANY roads there is no Limit TO the
speed at which passenger trains are
allowed to run. Enginemen are thuS
eucoura ged to run their trains at eA-
cessive speed in an effort to make up
time lost on schedules that are IN
many cases already sufficiently fast Tor
safety. such high speed IS especially
dangerous in times of fog or stofh'
when signals can be seen but COM
paratiVely short distance. Inc max
mum allowable speed of trains on an
roads should be established at -sale
limit, and it should not be left entlrel9
to the judgment of enginemen TO de-
termine whether or not this limit Is
exceeded.
"Inasmuch as the only purpose OF IN
vestigation," the report continues, Is
to learn the true causes OF accidents
SO that such causes may De eliminated
as fully as practicable it is manlfestig
impossible for the commission fully TO
accomplish such purpose unless en-
powered by law to enforce its recon-
mendations. Furthermore, the Com
mission should be authorized TO con-
duct independent Investigations with
respect to all matters affecting the
safety of railway travel, the object be-
ing TO prevent accidents as far as pos
sible rather than, as at present, mere
ly to point out the causes OF accidents
after their occurrence. There is par
ticular need for an investigation of the
conditions surrounding the use OF steel
rails and car wheels upon railroads..
Among the important recommends
tions for new legislation are the fol-
lowing:
That one period be fixed for the be-
ginning of all actions relating 10
transportation charges and that that
period be within three years from the
completion of the service as to which
damages are claimed.
That carrier which fails to demand
payment of charges for any trans
portation service within a period OF $50
days shall be deemed guilty of giving
rebate to the shipper.
That all suits brought to enforce OF
set aside orders of the Commission be
directly under the supervision of the
Commission, instead of, as now, under
the direction of the Department OF
Justice; and that the Commission be
charged primarily with the duty OF
presenting such cases in court subject
to the right of the Department of JUS
tice or private individuals to intervene
to protect public or private interests.
That the Commission be authorized