Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 August 1900 — WILL SAVE MANY LIVES. [ARTICLE]

WILL SAVE MANY LIVES.

Law Compelling Automatic Car Couplers Now Effective. A national statute that will result in a great saving of human life became effective on the morning of Aug. 1. I’t is the law providing that all railway cars engaged in interstate traffic shall be fitted with automatic couplers and air brakes. Hereafter any railway company that uses a car not thus fitted will be liable to a fine of SIOO for each offense. For years the labor people have fought for this law. The number of accidents on the different lines, due to the lack of the coupler, were becoming appalling. In its annual reports the interstate commerce commission advocated its passage. An average of 230 employes were killed annually while coupling cars, while those injured in the performance of that duty averaged 8,500 yearly. Outside of the accidents to employes the coupler and brake also affected the general traveling public, for had they been in use it is l>elieved that many disasters would have liecn averted. When it is shown that in the last ten years the railway accidents in the United States have injured from 40.000 to 50,000 annually and that the deaths which resulted numbered from 6.000 to 8,000 a year it can easily be seen what effect the brake and coupler might have had iu preventing the horrors and preserving life. 1 he first bill for the automatic coupler and brake was passed March 2, 1803. This, however, wns Several times amended, in accord with the views of the labor organizations, and now the act has lie come operative. Since the passage of the law the interstate commerce commission has given rhe railroads two extensions of time in which to comply with its provisions. The first extension was for one year, and the last, granted last Decemlier, was for six months. The cost of compliance with the law has been enormous.