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


particular need for an investigation
OF steel rails and car wheels, faults
which cause many accidents.
The work Of the commission has
Increased to such an extent that the
commissioners can no longer take
the time to hold hearings at other
places than Washington. Details of
the increases for the year in the va
rious departments are given. In the
prosecutions under the criminal pro-
visions Of the Elkins act there has
been falling off, only one verdict Of
guilty being secured. On this the
commission comments:
The number Of indictments re-
turned and prosecutions concluded, as
we'll as the aggregate amount of
fines recovered, for violation Of the
act during the past year are less
than for the previous year. The VAL
ne cf penal and criminal laws gen.
orally is to be measured by the peace,
order and security Of society resulting
from their observance rather than by
the amount Of punishment for their
infraction. Tested by this standard
the years showing indicates q graft
flying tendency among carriers and
shippers alike to understand and con-
form to the law. Not only is it true
that the vigorous enforcement Of the
Elkins and Hepburn Acts have dis
couraged willful violations of the
rights declared by these laws but it
has also called to the attention Of
well-intending railroad officials and
shippers the inherent wrong involved
in practices which were but few
years ago prevalent"
The report describes a number of
ingenius ways in which carriers are
attempting to continue rebating. The
courts now show disposition to con-
strue the Elkins Act in such a way
as to make rebating and the grant
ing Of concessions punishable, how
ever ingenious may have been the
device employed to defeat the pub
i.hed rates. The commission de-
rlandS the right to examine the cor
respondence files and all other docu-
nentS of the railroads, as we'll as the
account books declaring that only by
such means may all the cases Of vio-
latiOns Of the act be disclosed.
The commission tells Of it's efforts
to prevent the railroads from con-
cealing their true condition by i'm
proper accounting for depreciation.
During the fiscal year ended June
80, 1913, 1876 employees were killed
and 1851 employees were injured
while coupling and uncoupling cars.
The corresponding figures for the
preceding fiscal year were 1872 and
1924. respectively. Casualties caus-
ed by collisions with overhead and
side distractions and falling from
and getting on and off cars resulted
in 721 deaths and 1887 injuries to
employees. The corresponding flg-
ures for last year were 7O4 deaths and
1871 injuries.
The commission asks that 1t he
relieved Of its present duties in con-
nection with the parcel post sys-
tenn. 1t also asks that the lengths Of
time within which carriers and ship
pers may begin actions for charges
or damages be increased and advis-
es provision In the Interstate Com
merce Act that a carrier which fails
to demand payment Of charges for
any service in the transportation Of
property within the period Of 80 days
from the time Of the delivery Of the
shipment be deemed guilty of giving
rebate to the shipper. 1t asks that
new building be provided for it IN
Washington, that suits to enforce or
set aside its orders be brought under
it's supervision instead Of under SUI
pervision Of the Department Of Jus.
tice, and that the commission be au-
thorized to make orders respecting
the construction and maintenance Of
the physical properties Of railroads
engaged in Interstate commerce and
rules governing their use.
Other recommendations include
the control Of railway capitalization
by the commission. a uniform CLASH
fication for the country, and tho
changing Of the penalties for viola
tions Of the hours Of service act.
HASTEN ACTION ON CURRENCY.