The labor world., 1922-09-09
TICKET VA 0RI0US TN NISC0NSI
&C. c. REPORT
INDICATES BIC
Document Submitted to Senate
Called 'Whitewash.'
International Labor News Service.

International Labor News Service.
Washington, D. c., Sept. 7.-Half
the locomotives in use on American
railroads are in need of repairs that
should be made to comply with
"sound practice" according to what
is generally accepted as conserva-
tive report just submitted to the SEN
ate by the Interstate Commerce COM
mission. -
The report quotes figures on only
4,085 INSPECTIONS. 1t does not deal
with reports already published and
not denied that during July, first
month Of the strike, there were 49,
900 violations of I. C. G. rules gov
erning operation of locomo tives!
Each violation of the locomotive
inspection law is punishable by a
fine of 800. No steps have been
taken by the department Of justice
to prosecute and collect these fines.
The report submitted to the senate
does not deal with August figures
that the condition of locomotives has
been worse during August, the second
month of the strike, than during
July, the first month.
With only fifty government. in
spectors to inspect seventy thousand
locomotives, resulting in the inspec-
tion of>four thousand and eighty
five locomotives in July, the commits
sion states that it is not possible for
the government to determine "the
extent to which the law is being vio-
lated" All the carriers feel the ~ex-
tent to which unsafe or defective
motor power is in use.
The July findings OF the commits.
sion's inspectors typifies the situa-
ton throughout the country. In this
connection the commission says:
AT TIT different points they made
personal inspection of 4,0s5 loco
motives. OF these. 2,456 disclosed
defects of the vartsd character men
toned abote and more or less: Sc
rious: 169 were found to be in such
condition that they were not safe
to operate and notices were served
upon the carriers, under Section 6
Of the act, requiring them to be
withdrawn from service. OF the 9TH
ers, 992 were found to have defects
less serious in character, but in need
Of prompt attention. In 1926 cases
defects, though not such as to give
cause for immediate concern, were
such as in accordance with sound
practice should have attention."
That the report is in large meas
ure a whitewash of the railroads Is
the belief of many we'll informed
persons in Washington, inluding
some who are familiar with the in
ner mechanics of the I. c. C.
On the basis of Inspections made
the report guardedly brings out the
fact that something over half the
engines examined are in need Of re-
pairs that Should be made in accord
with sound practice"
This means that it is not Sound
practice" to operate more than half
the engines examined. Safety is the
only thing considered by I. c. c.
examiners in defining "sound .prac-
tice'' and three must therefore be
an element of danger in the opera
ton of more than half the engines
examined.
If the same ratio holds for the
10000 locomotives in use in the
United States, then there is an ele-
ment of danger in connection with
the operation of more than $4,000
of those locomotives. Passengers
have less than fifty per cent chance
of riding behind an absolutely safe
locomotive every time they board a
train.