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Show i j j Practical Point of th Mtiiast j While the message of President Roosevelt was r devoid of sensational features, it contained some I healthy practical suggestions. Not the least of these f was the section dealing with railroad accidents, j Frequently The Telegram has called attention to ! the increasing number of casualties in railroad I wrecks." The yearly list is appalling. The need of regulations that will safeguard the lives of passeng-v passeng-v j crs and trainmen has been pointed out in these col- I- umns repeatedly. - : 1 Now the President of the United States, in his i annual' message to the Congress, has taken cogni-znnce cogni-znnce of this condition and urges the passage of j laws that will require the railroad companies en-' ; gaged in interstate commerce to have more regard ! or human life. On this subject the resident's words are worth repeating: 'The ever-increasing casualty list upon our rail- roads is a matter of crave public concern, and ur- gently calls for action by the Congress. In the matter mat-ter of speed and comfort of railway travel our rail- roads give at least as good service as those of any ether nation, and there is no. reason why this service should not also be as safe as human ingenuity can make it. . Many of our leading roads have been foremost fore-most in the adoption of the most approved safeguards safe-guards for the protection of travelers and employees, j yet tht list of clearly avoidable accidents continues ''- unduly large. The passage of a law requiring the adoption of a block-signal system has been proposed to the Congress. I earnestly concur in that recommendation, recom-mendation, and would also point out to the Congres the urgent need of legislation in the interest of the public safety limiting the hours of labor for railroad employees in train service upon railroads engaged in interstate commerce and providing that only trained and experienced persons be employed in positions of responsibility connected with the operation of trains. "Of course, nothing can prevent accidents caused i by human weakness or misconduct; and there should f be drastic punishment for any railroad employee, whether officer or man, who by issuance of wrong - 'orders or by disobedience of orders causes disaster, j " The law of 1901, requiring interstate railroads to ' make monthly reports of all accidents to passengers 'and employees on duty, should also be amended so i as to empower the Government to make a personal ; Investigation, through proper officers, of all accidents acci-dents involving loss of life which seem to require investigation, in-vestigation, with a requirement that the results of !uch investigation be made public. 1 "The safety-apliance law, as amended by the act of March 2, 1003, has proved beneficial to railway employees, and in order that its provisions may be properly carried out', the force of inspectors provided V " for by appropriation should be largely increased. This service Is analogous to the steamboat-inspection service," and deals with even more important interests. in-terests. It has passed the experimental stage and demonstrated its utility, and should receive generous recognition by the Congress." - The words of the President in" this regard should prove potent. If the railroads will not adopt measures meas-ures which will mirinhize lh"e danger pf travel they should be made to do so. |