The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-12-24

SnOuld Use Only Steel C0rS-NOM-
mission Should Control Capitalize
ton OF Railroads.
Washington, Dec. 19.-"Conditions
disclosed by it's investigation Of train
accidents have confirmed the con-
clusions stated by the Commission in
Its last annual report to the congress
and emphasized the need of further
action by the Federal government to
provide greater safety tor travellers
and employees upon railways.
During the year ending June Goth,
1918, a total Of 76 train accidents
were investigated by the commission.
These accidents comprise flfty-one
collisions and twenty-five derailments,
and caused the death of two hundred
and eighty-three persons and the in
jury Of one thousand eight hundred
and eighty persons. The collisions in
vestigated were responsible for two
hundred and twenty-one deaths, and
one thousand one hundred and seven
ty-four injuries, an the derailments
caused sixty-two deaths and seven
hundred and six injuries.
"The evidence also Is that in many
cases operating officers are cogni-
zant of this habitual disregard OF
rules, and no proper steps are TAX
en- to correct the evil. Many operat-
ing officers seem to proceed upon the
theory that their responsibility ends
with the promulgation Of rules, ap-
parently overlooking the fact that no
matter how inherently good u rule
may be, 1t is Of no force unless it is
obeyed. On very many railroads
there is little or no system OF inspec
tion or supervision Of the work of
train service employees so far as per-
tains to those matters which vitality
effect safety. Employees are not ex
amined on the operating rules except
at the time OF their promotion, and
only the most perfunctory efforts are
made to determine their fitness to
perform the duties assigned to them.
This is the severe indictment against
the railroads Of the United States
found by the Interstate Commerce
Commission In It's annual report
which was made public today. While
not sparing the employees of the
roads, the commission at the same
time fays the officials as primarily
to blame for the mems failures.
About seventy-four per cent of the
serious accidents investigated were
due to the mistakes Of employees
but on this the commission comments:
THE auditing and checking sys-
TENS used for detecting the dishonesty
OF employees are marvels Of ingen-
uity and careful attention to detail.
but means Of determining whether
trains are operated in accordance
with the requirements of safety and
In conformity with the rules are al
most entirely lacking. Road fore
men are employed to supervise the
work Of enginemen and to instruct
them in their duties. but such super
vision and instruction pertain main
ly to matters affecting the proper
working OF engines so as to econ-
omize In the use Of fuel, oil, and 9TH
or supplies; instruction on the rules
Ia either entirely neglected or made
secondary to matters Of economy.
To end the dangerous condition ex-
listing the commission renews its de-
mand for Federal legislation. re-
quiring explicit and uniform operat-
ing rules. and assurance that en-
ployess all understand them.
1t also urges the universal install
lation Of automatic safety devices In
fourteen accidents due to failures to
obey block signals seven Of the cul-
pable enginemen were killed. Tho
trains involved in these lamentable
disasters" says the report, "are gen.
orally operated by trusted employees
Of long experience. But the record
abundantly proves that even splen-
id signal equipment can not prevent
the occasional man failures which