Norwich bulletin., 1913-07-11
Charged With Negligence in Placing Dohery in Charge
 of High Speed Passenger Train
McCHORDS REPORT ON STAMFORD DISASTER
Interstate Commerce Commissioner Declares Doherty Was Inexperienced and Unnstructed EngineerUrges Legis- Iaton to Compel Use of Steel Cars-Raroad Blames the Engineers in an Official Statement.


 was competent, reliable, and trust worthy. His reputation and record were good. But when he was placed in charge of a new engine attached to one of the fast passenger trains some one in authority Signally failed in duty in entrusting such an engine and train to his charge without any test of his capacity for this grave re- sponsibility.
 This investigation discloses that there was no rule upon this subject. Tt is but fair however to say of the present general manager that his connection with this railroad is re- cent and that his efforts in the pro- motion of safety during the short time he has been in charge encourages the hope that he may succeed in plac- ing it on a safer operating basis.
 Airbrake Tests.
 After the accident seven complete tests were made to determine the con dition of the brakes. both on the en- zine and the cars. It was found that the governor to the air pump on the engine was cratic in it's action and would occasionally stop the pump, re- quiring slight tapping to start 1t to work and enable the pump to op- crate. Outside of this cratic opera ton of the pump governor the air brakes on the engine were found to be in good condition.
 Recommendation of Steel Cars.
 Tn its twenty fifth annual report of congress" costinued Commissioner McChord discussing the New Haven's car equipment, ''the commission call ed particular attention to the desira- bility of all cars used in passenger train service being constructed Of steel Not only was 1t considered that these cars would better with stand the force of a collision or de- railment and afford a greater degree of safety to their occupants than cars Of wooden construction, but there would be eliminated the danger of fire breaking out and adding to the suffer- ing of the paSsen gers and employees. That the steel car is considered to be an improvement over the wooden car is shown by the fact that in ordering new ears for passenger train service many railroads have for some time past ordered nothing but steel cars, until at the present time 1t is the ex ception rather than the rule to find wooden cars OF the passenger trains of these roads.
 New Haven Road Made Slow Progress.
 The New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad, however, is among those railroads which have made conn paratively slow progress in the mat ter of steel car construction This condition possibly may be accounted for by the attitude of the officials as shown in testimony taken in connec- tion with the accident which ocurred on this road at Westport Conn, on October 3, 1912, wherein Vice Pres ident Horn, at that time in charge of operations stated that he was doubtful as to the deSirability of steel cars compared with wooden cars and added that if the New York. New Ha- Ven and Hartford railroad could be convinced that there was something better they would adopt it.
 Steel Cars Ordered.
 Tt is interesting therefore te note Hartford railroad now is ordering steel equipment inste> q of wooden equip ment as evidenced by testimony of MT. Wildin, mechanical superintendent. Mr. Wildih stated that the number of ears under order by the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad was 354, all of which were to be of all- steel construction, MT, Wildin further stated that cut of @ total of 2,2SS cars of various types comprising the pas sehgeF eauipnest owned by the New Y oFk, New Haven and Hartford rail road eH June 12 1918, tfirty-e one were of aii-steei construction, the balance being constructed of wood.
 Failure te Instruct Doherty.
 Eagiaemaa Behefty in his brief ex- PerieHce as aR eRgiHenan never had been in fast passenger train serv- ice up t9 the Tuesday preceding the Thursday when the accident occur red, practically all of his experience having been oH switch engines and slew freight engines.
 Deherty asserted that none of the travelling engineers employed fer that purpose. ever had ridden oa an en- zine with hiEa eE given him iaStruc- tieaS or assistance of any kind As he took the engine out for his first trip to Stamford, ERgineman Doher- ty testified that Traveling Engineer Carroll said to him; Well, for-sake leog out for yourself. Harmon got into it yesterday. He says the brakes aint holding and the water glass is all out of order. Bardo is enough so as to make sure you will stop"
 Deherty added: That was the only instruction I ever got"
 Comment on Bardo's Testimony.
 Commissioner MeGford thus cefn- ments upon Manager Bardos testi- mony; While graphically describing g conditions on this railroad in his own terms to be such that things generally were out of gear" he deprecated this rr4ilk-and water investigation that we get and the newspaper articles which have been published in connection with this investigation and sought by gen. pioyes to paliiate conditions and re- Eeve the management from it's feSPon- sibiiity for existing conditions"