Evening star., 1916-08-01
No Passengers Allowed on
Trains Carrying Such Dan-
gerouS Commodities.
MODIFICATION is MADE
FOR MILITARY SUPPLIES
Every Package Must Be MARKED
Plainly on the 0utside-Heavy
Penalty Is Provided.

To promote the safe transportation.
in the United States, Of explosives and
other dangerous articles, the interstate
commerce commission has formulated
regulations covering the marking. bon
ing. etc, of such explosives and has
promulgated penalties for violation.
This has been done under authority vf
an act of Congress, approved March =.
1909. which has been in force since jan
uary !. 1910.
This. OF course. was prior To the uine
tnat transportation Of war munitions
became such a heavy Traffic In ne
United States, and did not contemplate
such extensive transportation Of eNplo-
sives as now is being done throughout
this country.
The act states that II shall be un,
lawful to transport, carry or convey any
dynamite. gunpowder or other explo-
sives between a place in foreign coun-
try and a place within or subject to the
jurisdiction of the United States" or be-
tween the states and territories within
the United States, ''on any vessel or Ne-
hicle of any description operated by a
common carrier" while carrying pas
sengers tor hire
Qualified for Military Needs.
This is qualified by the provision than
1T shall be lawful to transport on any
such vessel or vehicle small arms ann
munition in any quantity. and such
fuses, torpedoes. rockets or other signal
devices as may be essential to promote
safety in operation. and properly pack
ed and marked samples of explosives
for laboratory examination, not exceed
hal md
each, and not exceeding twenty samples
at one time in single vessel or We
hicle. but such samples shall not tie
carried in that part of a vessel or Ne-
hicle which is intended for the trans
portation of passengers for hire.
A second provision makes IL plain
that this shall not be construed TO pre-
vent the transportation OF military or
nava! forces with their accompanying
munitions of war on passenger equip
ment vessels oravehicleS.
Regulations covering the transpor-
tation of explosives, made by the in-
terstate commerce commission. are au-
thorized by this act to be in accord
with the best known practicable means
of securing safety in transit covering
the packing, marking, loading, ham
tions necessary to deterpjne whether
the material when offered is in proper
condition to transport
This explosive act states specifically
that "it shall be unlawful. TO trans
port carry or convey liquid nitr"gly-
cerin, illuminate in bulk In dry condi-
ton, or other like explosive. between
a place in a foreign country and
place within or subject to the jurisdic-
ton of the United States. or between
place in one state, territory or dis
trict of the United States, or place
pon-contiguous to but subject to the
Jurisdiction thereof, and place in any
other state, territory or district OF the
United States. or place non contis uous
to but subject to the jurisdiction theIe-
of on any vessel or vehicle OF any de-
scrintion operated by common car
rier in the transportation or passen
gers or articles of commerce py iaho
or water -. i'll,
The act provides a penalty for viola
ton of the regulation regarding marx
ing of explosives. This says that;
livery package containing explosives
or other dangerous articles when pre-
sented to a common carrier for snip
ment shall have plainly marked on the
ondsif onG If shall be unlawful for any person
to deliver. or cause to be deiivered: TO
any common carrier engaged IN inter-
state or foreign commerce by land or
water. for interstate or foreign trans
portation, or to carry upon any Vessei or
Vehicle engaged in interstate or Tor
eirn TRANSPORTATION, any explosive, or
other dangerous article, under any
false or deceptive marking. description
invoice. shipping order. or other decla-
fation. or without informing the agene
of such carrier of the true character
thereof. at or before the time such de-
livery or carriage is made.
whoever shall knowingly violate. or
cause to be violated, any OF these pro-
isions' or regulations by the interstate
commerce. commission shall be fined NOT
more than two thousand dollars, or M
Iisoned not more than eighteen months.
ReSardirg the penalty when death or
bodily injury results from such trans
nortation the act says:
"When the death or bodily INJURY OF
any person is caused by the explosion
Of any article named in the four sec
tions last preceding. while the same Is
being pla oad upon any vessel or We
hicIe to be transported in violation
thereof. or while the same Is being 80
transported, or while the Same Is being
remoyed from such vessel or vehicle,
the person knowingly placing or aiding
cr permitting the placing, OF such ar
ticles upon any such vessel or vehicle,
TO be SO transported. shall be imprts-
oned not more than ten years"