Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-12-14
l. (. [. SUGGESTS ENLARGEMENT OF
 ITS MEMBERSHIP
Continued from Page 1.)
Urges An-Steel Trains.

l
 Pursuant to it's policy of making every effort to minimize railroad cas- ualties the commission recommends "that the use of steel cars in pas senger train service be required and that the use in passenger trains of wooden cars between or in front of steel cars be prohibited"
 hint that agents of foreign coun- tries may be active in attempting to wreck trains is given by the commits sion in it's statement that "derail- ments caused by malicious tampering with track or switches are becoming numerous enough to furnish a cause for alarm." Such accidents caused the death of 20 persons and the in- jury of 92 persons during the year, the commission says. The report GOV CTS the period in which foreign agents have been most active in destroying munition plants, blowing up bridges and committing similar crimes. As remedy the commission suggests that tracks be better policed and, that, possibly electric devices which would warn of track tanlpering be employ ed.
 As to general railway accidents the commission reports that 66 resulting in 165 deaths and 1,0S6 injuries oc- cared during the year and says that the publicity given "bad operating conditions" has aided in decreasing the number of accidents. = !
 Eager that it be not, baked when attempting to gather data in connec- tion with railway investigations, the commission recommends that it be given right of access to :" railroads correspondence files.
 The commission recommends a minimum penalty of s100 for viola ton of tho hours of service act. It asks new quarters fer the suitable and safe housing of it's records.
 Spends Four Millions.
 Tho commission reports that of the total appropriations of $4.loO. OO0 made for it. for the year, it htfs>exs' pended s:o,933,9 1925, leaving balance of $216,O74.
 As to the amount of regular busi- ness it has transacted, the commits sion reports that for the year ended October 31. 1915, it has disposed of .1G7 cases on it's formal docket com pared with 864 the previous year. On the special docket orders have been entered in 7.742 cases, a decrease or S62 compared with last year and 2452 cases have been disposed of othe- ! rwise an increase of 583 over last year. The commissions work reports that during the year 149, ,449 tariffs noting | rate changes have been filed with It. This is an increase of AIS over last year. - -@'.e,i, ,. Satisfactory progress is being made by the committee representing the various railroads in conferring and agreeing on rate structures. rms plan makes for uniformity. Progress also is being made in bringing inter state rates into harmony with intra- state rates. The commission suggests
 that it be given further authority to 1 expedite uniformity in rate mak ng EvasiOns of Law.
 I The commission reports that rail- roads and shippers continue to evade the law in many respects, notably the glanting of special passenger con sessions to large shippers; the form ing of alliances between shippers and carriers; the leasing of railroad prop erty to favored shippers at low rates,
 concessions obtained through false billing: failure to observe strictly published tariff rules: the making Of false claims for damages by shippers; and the participation of railroads in interstate traffic without having tar l ifs on file.
 The commission says that on roads
 where traffic is heavy an automatic block signal system is imperative. l As to progress on the physical val
 nation investigation, the commission
 reports that twelve parties are work ing on railroad lines and that many l other employees are gathering collat-
 eral data. From 45,00O to 50,000 miles