The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-09-22
FEDERAL BILL TO !
FIX TRAIN SPEED
Commerce Commission Will Ask
for Power to Protect
Public.
MEASURE BEING DRAWN
New Haven Wrecks Lead Com.
mission to Decide on q
Drastic Course.
MEASURE BEING DRAWN

wAsHiNoroN, Sept ?l.--The Interstate
Commerce Commission is about to make
recommendations Of far reaching impor-
tance In regard to safeguarding the lives
OF passengers on the railroads OF the
United States.
The commission will ask Congress for
legislation giving 1t plenary powers in
this direction. just as 1t now has plenary
power over the fixing OF Interstate rates.
Al present the commissions authority in
regard to the safety Of passenger traffic
is limited merely to making recommended
tons. which the railroads may accept or
reject as they see lit
The commission already has begun
work on bill which IL will submit to
Congress. This measure will empower
the commission to prescribe standard
and tested equipment and safety ap-
piances VI all kinds. II Is likely also
that It will provide that the commission
shall nave voice In determining the
weight and composition OF steel rails.
To &scgulatr speed of Trains.
The commission also viii ask authority
to prescribe the speed Of trains. The
bill also provides that trains In interstate
commerce shall De manned by crews as
prescribed b. the commission. la short.
the programme contemplates Ion. step
In the direction Of Federal regulation.
The wrecks on the New York. New
Haven and Hartford Railroad are chiefly
responsible for the commissions decision
that further legislative authority is
needed.
The proposed legislation is likely to
raise an issue almost as important as the
one which confronted the country when
| railroad rate regulation was FIRST pro-
posed In Congress.
An official Of the commission pointed
| out to-day that the commission has been
! experiencing In the matter of its recon-
mendations for safety devices on rail-
roads exactly the same treatment that il
received in regard 10 its recommended
tions on rates from 1857 to 1906.
/ The railroads. he contendsd. refused TO
| take the rate recommendations Of the
commission seriously just ~ they have
! to considerable degree ignarsd ihs aRd-
! inss Of the commission in regard to the
equipment and safety devices.
The commission has completed and will
make public within a few days It's report
on the recent New Haven wreck. In tina.
report the commission will handle the
situation very emphatically. II probably
marks the first step in the campaign for
an extension OF the commissions power
! in this direction.
McChord Takes the Lead.
Commissioner McChord has taken the
lead In this movement. He has had
charge OF the Investigations into the New
/ Haven and other wrecks. and he already
| has said publicly that he Intends to see
that something besides publicity comes
from the recent appalling disaster
! The bill now being drafted by the COM
mission IL described as one of the most
drastic ever prepared by II. In support
| OF the bill. the commission will recite the
| recommendations that II has made in the
past and the attitude OF the New Haven
! and other railroads toward these recon-
mendations. The commission already has
contended publicly that II the New Haven
, road had followed its recommend ations,
several Of the fatal wrecks would have
been impossible
II the commission is empowered to pre-
scribe the number Of men In a train crew 1,
probably will conflict with several State
laws on this subject. notably the New York
State law. which went into effect only q
few months ago and which has added con-
siderably to the operating expenses Of the
New York State railroads.
Officials OF the commission say they
! have received assurances from members OF
the House and Senate that there will b.
no delay In the consideration OF sucn
legislation.
The commission is now considering the
ADVISABLE Of calling conference OF the
ofiiclals Of the construction departments
Of the big railroads and of the makers Of
steel rails to determine what steps shall
be taken to meet the defects In rails
caused by the increased weight OF locomo-
tives and cars. A defect which Is called
transverse assure cannot be detected by
tests before the rail Is laid.