1
Pages 1 to 12
Section Two
VOL. XXVI.
PORTLAND, OREGON, SUNDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 1, 1907.
NO.
O.J.
Store Closed Monday Labor Day
Eitabliihed in 1850 Fifty-Seven Year in Bmine
Dpman,ftolfe&Co
Quality Considered, Our Price Are Always the Lowest
Tuesday, Special Sales
Tuesday begins the first of our great Fall sales.
Extraordinary bargains in new Fall merchandise in
every department. Watch for our large advertise
ments in Monday Telegram and Tuesday Oregonian.
Store closed all day Monday Labor Day.
Paris -American Suits
For Women
The New Plaid Silk Waists
Splendid Values From $10.50 to $18.50 Each
The new stylos in Plaid Silk
Waists we are displaying at $10.50
to $18.50 represent our greatest
achievement in waists. The soft
est and most beautiful color com
binations, the most tasteful trim
mings, the best values we have
ever shown. The assortment is
complete and inviting. The prices
are unquestionably the lowest at
which waists of equal style and
merit and quality have been of
fered at any season's opening.
$10.50 to $18.50
PLAID SILKS for Fall of 1907
Fashion says: "Plaid Silks for waists are the correct thing
for Fall, 1907." We are showing the largest and best stock of
Plaid Silks ever shown in Portland. $1.00 to $2.00 yard.
Dresden and Pompadour Silks for dinner and reception
dress, shown in a large variety of new and exclusive novelties.
$1.25 to $2.00 yard.
Fall Street Hats $5 and Upwards
We watch with interest each new style for Fall, as they
daily appear. The large, drooping hats, jauntily upturned
from the face, are the most beautiful and becoming style fash
ionable for many seasons, and it occupies a prominent place
among the newest effects. We have a special showing of all
the latest shapes in early Fall shadings, including the newest
cardinal colorings, .at $5 and upward.
We show exclusively the genuine "Fluffy Ruffles" Hat that
is the rage in the East. Paris verve and chic is apparent in
every alluring line and curve.
Make Your Fall Gown From a
BUTTERICK PATTERN
A gown cut from a Butterick Pattern is distinctive. It has all
the grace and real style which could be given it right in Paris or
New York. It will tit because Butterick Patterns are cut accurately.
Butterick style is imitated; Butterick illustrations copied but
never with success. To get the real Butterick style, you should read
THE DELINEATOR.
A WOMAN'S MAGAZINE
OF VALUABLE INFORMATION
We sell single copies of THE DELINEATOR or forward your
subscription to the publishers, 15 cents a copy; $1.00 a year.
We are agents for Butterick Patterns, 10 and 15 cents none
higher.
Butterick Fashion Sheets, free at our store, give you some idea
of the beauty and elegance of models illustrated in THE DELINEATOR.
of Fashion
We are justly proud of
our showing of high-class
Model Suits this season
the kind that we call
Paris-American, made by
a New Yorker who goes
to Paris every Summer
for his inspiration and
then comes back to pro
duce these superb tailored
suits.
These suits are so far
ahead in style and novel
Ideas of those which
dressmakers produce at
such prices, that the
woman with taste will
quickly see the advantage
of buying an individual
suit at a ready - to - wear
price.
Little style touches that
only a woman of refine
ment would notice, give
them a pre-eminence that
ordinary suits, made in
factories, do not possess.
Price? - Say $50 to $85.
Not extravagant for such
suit? as these.
EXPERT REVIEWS
TELEGRAPH STRIKE
Smoldering for Years, Rise of
Cost of Living Causes tt
to Break Forth. ."
SEVERAL BLUNDERS MADE
Commercial Telegraphers, ' It Is Al
leged, Weakened Their Cause
When Press Operators Were.
Called Out.
Just what the telegraph operators
claim in the way of additional pay(and
shorter hours is explained by one of,
the best-informed men connected with
one of the companies, who also enters
into the history of the present strike:
"There are four branches to the tel
egraphing business," said he. "First,
because of its numerical superiority,
is the railroad branch; second, the
commercial branch; third, the broker
and race-track branch, and lastly, the
press telegraphers.
"Of the first branch,' the present
strike controversy has nothing to do,
excepting in the degree that these op
erators are injecting themselves into
it both by financial assistance and al
leged wire-tampering. The financial
assistance Is admitted. The wire-tampering
is an accusation made by the
companies and met by the union opera
tors with counter-charges that the
trouble on the wire is due to the ig
norance on part of the present staff
of operators of the proper method of
connecting the wires at various coun
try points where the telegraphic sig
nals are automatically repeated
through electrically-energised Instru
ments, and thus forwarded to the next
relay station.-
Commercial Men on Strike.
"The second branch, the commercial.
is the main body of men who are now
striking. Their employers are the
Western Union Telegraph and the Pos
tal Telegraph & Cable Company and
some minor telegraph companies.
These men, until the present strike
was inaugurated, received salaries
ranging from $25 per month in unim
portant offices and way stations, gen
erally with a commission on all pre
paid matter of 40 per cent of the tolls,
to the maximum of $88 a month, with
a bonus of 1 cent for every message
not exceeding 30 words in length (each
subsequent 30 words of a message
counting as another message), after a
certain minimum of messages had been
sent each hour. This minimum was
about 30 messages per hour. A
crackerjack operator on a "bonus"
wire, under perfect conditions, can
average one message per minute. Thi
is an exception which cannot obtain
except under very good conditions.
The month of a commercial operator is
a full calendar, not commercial month,
that Is a total of 36ol4 days per year.
A first-class operator on a bonus wire
can make about $125 to $135 per
month. Their hours were 8!4 for day
work and Ihi hours for night work. By
working extra time, the monthly com
pensation frequently reaches $150 to
$180 per month; this, however, nece-
tates working from 16 to 20 hour"
per day a good portion of the month.
Men are occasionally allowed a day
off, but this Is a matter wholly in the
hands of the chief operator, who lets
his operators off according to wire
conditions, amount of traffic on hand
or. It is alleged, favoritism sometimes
has bearing on the matter of a day
off.
"The operator named Ryan, to' whose
discharge the present difficulty is at
tributed by uninformed persons, had
as much to do with the strike as the
high private in the rear ranks, who may
De detailed to Are a cannon after the
gun has been loaded and sighted by
someone else.
Strike Smoldered for Years.
"The strike has been smoldering for
months years, ever since, in fact, the
present era of good times sent the
cost of living to its present height.
"The actual causes of the strike
were a' spontaneous explosion, caused
by what the operators claim was years
of suffering in some cases, oppression
in others or both, together with what
they assert was insufficient pay pay
that will compare about on a par with
that received by a streetcar conduc
tor. "The men claim that it requires su
perior intelligence and from three to
five years' practice to become profi
cient in their trade, 'and that pay equal
to that of unskilled labor is not suffi
cient remuneration.
"The strike was called without the
consent, and presumably before plans
had been perfected by their strategists,
and is, for that reason, in a fashion
'top-heavy.'
"A good strike strategist never in
conveniences the public except when
absolutely necessary, and then only for
tne snortest possible period. The nub
lie can be frequently led into strong
symja,thy with a just movement except
wnen us own seir-interest Is at stake.
"In this respect, the strikers are
weak. The same end could more ef
fectively have been accomplished by
leaving tne press and broker opera
tors and the employes of one of the
big companies at their wires.
Public Is Inconvenienced.
"This would have reduced the incon
venience of the public to a minimum.
and while either telegraph company
can remain practically Idle for weeks,
so long as the other company is like
wise tied up, It cannot or will not con
sent to remain inactive If the other
company is in full operation and draw
lng the business of customers of the
inactive company. The reason for this
Is plain. Many of the customers of
the Idle company, once weaned from
It, will never return. This no com
pany can or would stand. The con
tention of the telegraphers that the
two companies are owned or controlled
by the same interests is untenable.
Even granting that 45 per cent of each
company's stock is owned by the same
Interests, the other 55 per cent is well
known to be controlled by Gould of the
Western Union, and Mackay, of the
Postal. These two men may belong to
the same political party, the same
clubs, etc., but they are not going to
, stand by for an Instant and see a large
volume of business diverted from one
to the other without a strenuous
'kick.'
"The walking out of the grain and
stock broker men was merely the re
sult of the hysteria which was epi
demic at the time the strike was
called.
Strike of Pressmen a Blunder.
"The walking out of the press oper
ators was the greatest strategic blun
der of all.
"Taking away the Associated Press, the
only practical means of communication
between different cities, each local union
Is Isolated from all the rest, except as
It hears from the others by the slow pro
cess of the United States mails. This of
course is bound to engender doubts and
fears in the minds of the various indi
vidual members, and may ultimately end
in disruption of their organization
through lack of a cohesive influence.
"More than this an elaborate press re
port of strike conditions and the senti
ment of all the different parts of the
country is the only method by which the
real situation can be measured by heads
of telegraph companies, or ambitious poli
ticians high in authority whose influences
are needed to a speedy settlement or
Government intervention.
"Politicians can pigeon-hole petitions
from commercial bodies, municipalities,
etc., but they can't pigeon-hole the con
stant nagging of a newspaper full of dis
patches from a thousand different cities.
"Also, the strike of the Associated Press
operators was a blunder because their
salaries were good and they left the em
ploying association in a manner likely to
win little sympathy from any board of
arbitration, should the whole matter be
solved In that manner, as the telegra
phers declare they wish it to be.
They had received a substantial ad
vance In wages within the past six
months and their working hours had been
readjusted, according to their statements
at the time it was done, to their perfect
satisfaction.
"These men gave General Manager
Stone of the Associated Press Just two
days to answer a demand for an increase
of about 80 per cent in their wages. They
were receiving $30 per week for six days
of ten hours and from $36.90 to $38.40 per
week of seven nights of about ten hours
each. This amounted to $130 per month
for day men and $166.40 per month for
night men. Each operator also was al
lowed two weeks' vacation on full pay.
Their present demand is for $39 per week
for a week of six days of ten hours and
$49.46 per week of seven nights of ten
hours. This amounts to $169 per month
for day and $220.82 per month for night
men. The demand also includes two
weeks' vacation on full pay.
After making their first demand on
General Manager tone. and receiving an
answer that the matter would be laid
before the board of directors of the As
sociated Press by wire and reply given
them within the time demanded, they
changed their minds, evidently, and
wanted to know right off.
"The operators were assured that the
general manager had no authority to
grant such a radical increase without
special authorization and were informed
that they would have their answer within
the time specified. Thirty minutes later
they all walked out.
"This is considered to have been a bad
step, for It Is safe to say that had these
men considered their action maturely they
would have at least waited until their
time limit had expired.
"The local Associated Press operators
admit 'that their action was hasty and
think the step was Ill-advised, but It was
a moment of hysteria, and now that they
have struck each one of them appears to
he bound hy the fear that If either of
them should have the temerity to admit
the error to their fellow operators, they
would be considered afraid of losing their
Jobs or be called turncoats.
The Hearst Schedule.
"The 'Hearst'' schedule which they de
mand is one originally paid by W. It.
Hearst on his transcontinental trunk wire
which reached from Boston to Is
Angeles via New York, Chicago and San
Francisco. A leased wire is a costly thing
and Mr. Hearst desired to 'operate it at
a maximum speed so as to retain It the
least possible number of hours and to
this end paid a premium for operators
who could both send and receive tele
graphic matter with equal dexterity, a
feat rarely obtainable in most press
operators, only the cream of the press
telegraphers being capable of ' operating
a wire at top speed. Another thing that
induced Mr. Hearst to pay fancy salaries
was the fact that he was at the time
running for Governor of New York and
when ho was currying favor with the
labor element, with a view later to seek
the Presidential nomination.
"There are many operators who are
capable of sending reports as swiftly as
any of the Hearst men or who can re
ceive it from the fastest operator that
ever lived, but' the men who can both
'send' and 'receive' with equal dexterity
are so scarce as to be almost classed as
freaks.
"These men. because of their superior
capabilities, are possibly worth what Mr.
Hearst pays them. It might be mentioned,
in passing, that it is only on his heavy
trunk wires that Mr. Hearst pays such
high prices for operators. The Hearst
schedule does not prevail on laterals
which serve papers not owned by Mr.
Hearst but who receive his news service.
"While the Associated Press always em
ploys none but the best senders and none
but the best receivers, it has never set
as a standard of qualification that their
operators shall be equally dexterous at
both. Even granting that Mr. Hearst is
correct in the valuation he places on his
operators, it is Just a little hard to figure
out wherein lies the Justice of the claim
that the average Associated Press opera
tor, while fully capable of the most exact
ing demands as receiver or sender ac
cording to the location of his work, can
claim that his talents are worth as much
as the class that Hearst employs."
THINKS PRACTICE WRONG
City Attorney Will Recommend Re
form In Street Grade Taxes.
That assessments for street improve
ments should not be rigidly made
against abutting property under the
present charter is the opinion of City
Attorney Kavanaugh. Up to the
present time, the assessment of costs
directly to abutting property has al
ways been the practice. Mr. Kava
naugh believes that the tax should be
apportioned according to benefits. The
question arose over tne assessment of
Denver avenue, Kllllngsworth to Port
land boulevard. It was found that if
the present plan of assessment were
followed, a charge of only 89 cents
would be made against some lots, while
others would be taxed as much as $118.
With this case as a basis. Mr. Kava
naugh is preparing a written opinion
for submission to the street committee
of the Executive Board.
Mrs. M. Pendleton.
SIL.VERTON, Or.. Aug. 31. Mrs. Mar
tha Pendleton, aged 89 years, and a pio
neer of Oregon since 1853, died at her
home in this city last evening. The fu-
neral will be held Sunday. -
IDAHO IS ALREADY
TALKING POLITICS
Party Leaders Beginning to
Line Up Henchmen for
Coming Fray.
BRADY SLATED FOR SENATE
Heyburn Will Have Stiff Fight to Be
Re-elected Aspirants for Con
gress Are Numerous Du
bois Hammering Away.
MOST TALRED-OF FAVORITES IN
IDAHO.
For President Roosevelt first choice,
Taft second.
For Senator Brady, who made way
for Borah, may succeed Hfeyburn;
Dubois Democratic candidate.
For Congress French for fou.lh
term. Col. Thomas R. Homer, Major
Fred R. Reed. C. W. Beal. Mr. Brady.
' For Governor C. L. Heitman. of
Kootenai.
BY WIMJAM BALDETtSTON.
BOISE, Idaho, Aug. 31. (Special.)
Though the time for the state conven
tion is nearly a year off. there begins)
to be a pronounced agitation in the
political pool. While there does not
seem to be any serious organization on
the part of the friends of the pros
pective candidates, considerable Inter
est has been aroused with respect to
several of those who are expected to
figure in the contest for places.
There is, first of all, pronounced in
terest in the Presidential question.
This state is very strong In support
of Roosevelt and his policies, and the
progress of the candidacies of those
who are aspiring to the Presidential
nomination is followed with close at
tention. Idaho sentiment is that the
nomination should be offered the pres
ident. People feel that he will be
needed during the next four years, and
the conviction is that public sentiment
on that point should find expression
in formal tender of the nomination.
either by the convention or on the
part of the recognised spOKesmen
ahnut the time for it to assemble.
They are of the opinion that, should
the President find that the country de
sired him above all others, he would
lay aside his own preferences and ac
cept the nomination. Their reasoning
Is that he Is too patriotic to refuse
under such conditions. Being so much
In earnest In the prosecution of the
policies which bear his name, it is
thought he would not disappoint ma
public If the latter should formally
ask him to remain at the helm to di
rect the operations of the administra
tion during the ensuing four years.
His sincerity in declining to be a can
didate is fully recognized, but there
is a feeling that the case is one in
which the people have a right to go
ahead and express their real cnoiee
notwithstanding his announced atti
tude on the subject of again being a
candidate.
IYr Taft After Roosevelt.
Further, it is not felt that such ac
tion would be either impertinent or
disrespectful. It would at least be the
greatest compliment ever paid a public
man since the days of Washington,
and if the President did not feel he
could accept, the judgment of the par
ty would thus be placed on record in
a manner that would be to its lasting
credit. That Is the way the people of
Idaho look at the subject; they are
for Roosevelt first. Should it be im
possible for him to accept, or should
it be decided that the convention
should not go so far as to offer him
the nomination, the state will he for
Taft in all probability. Governor
Hughes has many admirers, while Sec
retary Root commands the confidence
of a great many, but the state may be
set down for Taft after Roosevelt.
There will be two conventions next year,
one in the Spring to select delegates to
the National convention, the other late
in the Summer to nominate the state
ticket. The delegates to the state con
vention and to the National gathering
will be selected with an eye single to
their loyalty to Roosevelt.
In 1908 we shall have another sensational
contest. It is somewhat difficult to fore
cast what the result will be. Were
Senator Heyburn a loyal supporter of the
President and his policies, there would be
little or no doubt about his being re
turned, but he is at outs with Roosevelt
in a measure and Indulges In open or
veiled opposition to the Roosevelt policies
on practically all occasions. This Is so
well understood that an opening is made
for somebody to get Into the field against
him, and It Is within the range of pos
sibilities that he will be dented a e-elec-tion.
The Senator's native ability and
forcefulness commend him to a very large
number of people, but he is lacking in a
personal following, while he, is distrusted
on the great issues which have been de
veloped during the present administra
tion. Brady Heybnrn's Chief Rival.
The man most mentioned as a possible
rival of the Senator in the contest for
the Senatorship is James H. Brady, chair
man of the State Committee. He
was a candidate for the place filled by
the election of Borah, but he cheerfully
laid aside his ambition at the time of
the state convention when It appeared
best for the Interests of the party that
there should be no contest over the in
dorsement of Borah. His management of
the campaign was very satisfactory:
Indeed both of the campaigns of which
he has had charge were managed with
great ability and effectiveness. Mr. Brady
was very noticeably loyal to Borah, the
man who had made it necessary for him
to stand aside. These circumstances give
Mr. Brady a warm place In the hearts
of the friends of Senator Borah, and a
good many of them are disposed to Insist
that he run for Senator next year.
Mr. Brady is making no sign, however.
He has stated to the writer within ten
days that he does not know that he will
be a candidate for any position next year,
preferring to watch developments and be
guided by conditions as they shall finally
be shaped up.
In the meantime, unauthorized persons
are booming him for Governor. He will
not be a candidate for that position un
less unforseen developments should
It necessary. Others are suggesting that
he run for the house, but he is not giving
that serious consideration. In a general
way it may be stated that, if he enters
politics at all as a candidate, it will be
for the position of Senator. That Is the
Impression left upon the mind from nis
statements.
The effort to get Brady to run for Gov
ernor appears to be an offshoot of Hey
burn politics. If he were to become a
candidate for the Gubernatorial office
with the support of the Heyburn forces.
it would preclude him from entering the
Senatorial race and thus effectually shelve
him.
Gooding Stronger Than liver.
Governor Gooding has no intention.
so far as known, of getting into the
ring next year. When elected, he
had an ambition to serve two terms
to give the state such a good admin
istration that they would desire him to
serve them a second time. In that he
has been gratified. His first term was
notable for the business methods he
introduced, and his second term is
characterized by equal forcefulness
and practicalness. He made many
enemies during his first term because
of his habit of hewing to the line, ir
respective of whom he might hurt in
the discharge of his duty, and this
raised a storm. His vigorous action
in the Steunenberg murder case raised
up other enemies, and all of theso
combined ran him behind his ticket
in the election of 1906; but that
temporary weakness has passed away.
As the people have reflected upon his
official record as a whole, they have
more fully realized the proportions of
the service he has performed for the
state, and today he Is stronger than
ever berofe. Therefore, should he de
termine to go before the people for any
position, he would be a most formid
able candidate.
What part Senator Borah may take
in the campaign next year, none can
Bay. He may follow the course of
keeping his hands off. since he has no
direct personal Interest In the contest.
That is very often done, perhaps it Is
the rule, when a Senator's colleague
Is up for re-election. But whether ho
will take part or not. his friends are
likely to be conspicuously In evidence
throughout.
Heitman Mentioned for Governor.
So far there are practically no can
didates for Governor. Some Impos
sible names have been mentioned, but
no man who could be nominated has
yet been brought forward. Some sug
gestion is heard that C. L. Heitman.
of Kootenai, long conspicuous both as
a lawyer and as a party leader, be se
lected for the position, but no one has
any authority to designate him as a
candidate, so far as the correspondent's
information goes. Mr. Heitman- is one
of the strong men of the state who
have the business ability to conduct
the affairs of the state, and if he
should come out as a candidate ho
would prove a formidable factor in the
situation.
There- is .pronounced activity in con
nection with the Congressional nomi
nation. Burton L. French is serving
his third term in the House, but it is
apparent he will have to make a sharp
fight to retain the scat. Two candi
dates are In the field against him, and
It is 4-umored others are thinking ot
endeavoring to' capture the nomina
tion. The candidacy ot Colonel Thoma3
R. Hamer has been formally announced.
He is from Fremont County and has
been prominent in the politics of the
state. At the last convention ho was
a candidate for the nomination, but
his delegation got over the traces in
the flurry that occurred and he never
had a chance. The deal hy which the
convention was controlled Involved the
renomlnatlon of French, anil Hamer
was obliged to lay his ambition on the
shelf. The Colonel won his title in
the Philippines. He went out as a
Captain with the Idaho volunteers and
returned as Lieutenant-Colonel.
- Many Aspire to Congress.
Major Fred R. Reed has announced
his willingness to accept the nomina
tion, though he states he is not to be
regarded as an active candidate He is
one of the very popular men of the
state and will have a very considerable
following if he entcr3 the light in
earnest. The Major is what Is called
a "mixer." Indeed, he has few ejual3
In that respect. He can make a speech
that arouses enthusiasm, his genius for
story telling serving him in good stead
In that connection. Major Roed Is
prominently connected with the irri
gatlon development of the state and
is now Identified with what is caned
the Twin Falls North Side project,
which is backed by Pittshurg people.
In former years lie was In the State
of Washington and bad much to do
with the development of the Yakima
Valley.
It is anticipated that C. W. Benle. of
Wallace, will again be a candidate
for the nomination for Congress, hut
on that point there is no information.
He has been before several conven
Hons, but Mr. French always had the
northern part of the state well In
line, and there was not .enough oppo
sltion to him in the southern end of
the state to make it possible for Mr.
Beale to break in.
French is a resourceful man in politics
and those entering the field against him
will have a difficult task. He is popular,
as is always shown in his vote at the
polls, but he has held the office three
terms and there Is considerable sentiment
to the effect that he should now give
way.
Dubois Still a Candidate.
The Democratic situation is going to be
interesting. Former Senator Dubois will
be in the field for another election, and
it seems probable he will easily control
the action of his party. For some years
he has dominated it. making the Mormon
question his issue. On that, as well as
for some other reasons, he has always
met with the bitter opposition of a large
element of the party, but the indications
now are that he will have a smoother
road in his contest for supremacy next
year.
Ever since the convention of 1900, when
he won control from the late Frank
Steunenberg. then Governor, there has
been factional fighting in the party, the
Steunenberg element opposing him at
every turn. After the Democratic defeat
of 1902. Dubois raised the Mormon issue.
This intensified the factional feeling, but
he retained control and remains the leader
of his party in the state. Some of the old
opposition are asking for some conces
sions on the Mormon question as the
price of their submission, but others seem
disposed to let Dubois have his way in
that matter.
Senator Dubois is about to launch a
weekly paper here to be called the
Sclmlter. It will be devoted mainly to
ventilation of the charges he- brings
against the Mormons and will be his
especial organ In the forthcoming cam
palgn. It is the understanding this paper
will wage vigorous warfare upon the
Mormons and the practices charged
against them. This will undoubtedly make
Mormonism the issue so far as the Demo
crats are concerned, and those of that
party who cannot accept it will have to
do as so many of them done before
vote the Republican ticket and thus in
sure ft greater Republican victory.
PRESIDENT IS TO
ABATE ACCIDENTS
Appalled by Loss of Life He
Will. Recommend Legis
lation. FAULT RESTS WITH STATES
Secretary Moseley, of Interstate Com
merce Commission, Says Lack of
Stnte Laws Makes It Necessary
for Federal Action.
OREGONIAN NEWS BUREAU. Wash
ington, Aug. 26 The perils of the road
for the traveling public are to cease
if the programme as adopted by the
administration shall prove effective.
The appalling number of victims which
the railroads' niinotaur 1ms exacted has
led the President carefully to consider
a way to curb Its voracious appetite.
The result probably will be a strong
recommendation in his forthcoming an
nual message that legislation be en
acted which will permit the Federal
Government to make Investigations of
accidents affecting interstate trains.
Edwin W. Moscley, secretary of the
Interstate Commerce Commission, who
is known throughout the country for
his Interest in devising means for the
protection of life and limb on the
rails, said today that in those states
which have not machinery for a care
ful investigation of railroad accidents
Congress should authorize the Inter
state Commerce Commission to" make
such investigation. so that full In
formation can ho obtained as to causes
and responsibility. In some states in
vestigations ot accidents are made by
Coroner's inquests; in others they are
intrusted to the Railroad Commissions.
Secretary Moseley thinks the Wiscon
sin Railroad Commission is especially
well equipped to make inquiries Into
accidents.
"If we bear In mind." said Mr.
Moseley, "that a great deal of our leg
islation has resulted from the inac
tivity or unwillingness of the states
to do their duty, we can better under
stand why there has been Federal in
tervention and tlio need for it. In
many Instances the states have been
absolutely supine. If all the state
had a law requiring every car to be
equipped in accordance witti tno pro
visions of the National safety appliance
law you wotijd see a tremendous re
dm tion in tile number of accidents.
Kut if the states won't take actton to
protect the lives of their own citizens,
then it lic'onios naturally the duty of
the Federal Government to look after
citizens making Interstate journeys.
That there is grave need of pro
tective legislation is shown hy the re
ports in regard to accidents Issued by
the Interstate Commerce Commission
for the last eight years. From 1300 to
1907, Inclusive, there have been killed
27.74 1 and Injured 40R.24S. The great
majority of the killed and injured
were men and women In the prime of
their usefulness. -Tile casualties rep
resent almost a total loss to the coun
try, as many of the injured were so
badly hurt that they were unable to
pursue tiicir avocations.
Roll of Dead and Injured.
The number of accidents In each year is
as follows:
Year.
I'lOO
v.mi
I'.Ml'.'
i:mi:i
T.HI
Till".
3!mi;
1!07 nine months) . .
Totals
Killed. Injured
- 4:t.:i7l
'-'.!ri7 411.1:10
2 sin rv.t.Hod
I 4M177
:i.7s7 M..HI
."..TUX 4Ht
4.JJ." n.7"!
:;.sor r7,4Rj
27.714 40rt.248
The number of passengers killed and In
jured was much less than that of rail
road employes. Of the grand total .KCV8
passengers were killed and il,79:i injured.
Almost 2.".ooo employes were killed and
315.OH0 Injured. It is confidently expected
that when the. law fixing the hours of
labor for railroad employes goes into ef
fect next Spring there will he a great
falling off In tho number of accidents
among employes. The long hours em
ployes now have, to hibor cause them,
through fatigue, to fail to observe or to
misinterpret a signal and a collision fol
lows. It would seem that the railroads
themselves would take action to prevent
collisions, derailments, etc., not only be
cause it would savo them from paying
damage claims, but also because of the
great loss they suffer through tho de
struction or damage sustained by their
equipment. It Is estimated that in the
last eight years the monetary loss suf
fered by the railroads as a result of ac
cidents readies tho enormous sum of
$75.Cflo,OiW.
If that amount of money had been laid
out in the development and use, of safety
appliances, the railroads would be in a
better condition today than they are. and,
of far greater importance, the country
would still possess the brain and brawn
of the many who havo been sacrificed to
their negligence.
I'nder authnrity granted hy the last
Congress the Interstate Commerce Com
mission is making a thorough test of
safety appliances. Tho actual work Is
being done by a board of experts. For
some weeks past this board has been ex
amining a number of inventions which
have been suhmitted to it. eliminating
those of a crank character or which It Is
apparent cannot be of any valne. The
appliances selected for trial will be at
tached to trains and thoroughly tested.
The railroads have Informed the commis
sion of their desire to co-operate with
the hoard and 1 avo expressed a willing
ness to fiirnishtrackago and equipment.
It Is hoped that the board will be able
to make a preliminary report some time
next Winter for the use of Congress.
The safety appliances have no connection,
however, with the block signal system,
which fixes a space rather than a tima
interval between trains, and a determ
ined effort will be made to havo en
acted a bill compelling the general adop
tion of this system. Only about one
fifth of the railroads of the country are
equipped with it a condition which the
Interstate Commerce Commission for
years has endeavored to have rectified.
It is probable the railroads will oppose
any legislation which will require heavy
expenditure-by them, even though the re
sult would be greater protection for life,
limb, and property. Nevertheless, it Is
believed the sentiment of the country for
safe travel will bo so unmistakably ex
pressed that Congress will not hesitate to
pass tho necessary legislation.