Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 92, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 July 1907 — PUBLIC BENEFITED [ARTICLE]

PUBLIC BENEFITED

Some of the Advantages Which Accrue to the People by Reason of New Law. THE RAILROAD COMMISSION 1 _ » Action of Republican Majority In Enlarging the Powers of This Body Has Been Shown to Have Been Prompted by Prudence.; and FarSeeing Judgment. ""[Special Currespondvnce. ] Indianapolis, Ind., Aug. 21.—Without knowing it the public is being greatly benefited by the laws enacted by recent legislature giving the railroad commission more-authority over.railroads and traction lines. Traver~iß~ being made safer- —just how mueh no one not intimately Informed of the operation of the commission knows, but It can be Stated definitely that the commission, sided by the laws enacted by a Republican legislature, is bringing the roads up to such a high standard that it is a certainty that accidents will grow fewer and fewer from how on. Inspectors Are Busy. Under one of the new laws the commissionhas appointed inspectors whose _du ties are numerous. For instance, they examine all the bridges along a certain line and then make a report to the commission. If anything is wrong the commission calls in the superintendent of the road and instructs him to make the needed repairs. Again, the inspectors may be sent to examine all of the stations to see about the sanitary conditions. If the latter are bad then the commission orders the road to make them good. _ An inspector may be sent to exam ine the rolling stock to see if it is in dangerous condition. His report must be thorough, so that the commission can take Whatever steps are necessary to remedy the defects. Perhaps hundreds of lives are saved in this manner alone, as many trains are wrecked because of faulty equipment. Inspectors are being called on to examine the tracks to learn whether or ntot they are fit for the traffic they bear; whether or not the rails are heavy enough. In fact, there are. hundreds of things that the commission is looking into. Inspectors are making a thorough report on every system in the state. The railroad men themselves appreciate what ts being done to make the roads safer for the public and very frequently they aid in the inspection. , , , . The commission has employed as inspectors only men whose ripe experience in railroad work makes it possible for them to recognize wherein fault lies and to report it in such a way that the commission will know how to proceed. There is ho doubt that under this law the roads will be forced,to keep their property in such condition that it will be safer to travel and safer for their employes. Equal Car Distribution. Another good law put through by the Republicans is being enforced by the commission, and it is proving of great benefit to shippers. One of its provisions follows; 7 . , . “Each carrier shall furnish to the applicant in not less than forty-eight hours after 8 tfclock p. m. of the day of filing such application the care so required, unless the cars are apt so soon required, in which case they shall be furnished when required. The carrier’s agent at; every station shall record In such book the date the cars were furnished and billed, out and such other information as such commission may prescribe in the form of such record, and every such record, or a properly ’authenticated copy thereof, shall be competent evidence in all courts of the state and before the railroad commission of Indiana concerning matters required to be recorded therein. Any such carrier •hall not be required to furnish cars for shipment unless applied for as provided in. this section; provided, however, that the distribution and delivery of coal care to coal mines on suet carrier’s lines in this state shall not be 'controlled by the provisions of this section." ; The Intent of the act is properly to provide for car distribution. Big Money Saved. While the Democrats have been howling themselves hoarse about the cast of the railroad commission, they have not said anything about tha. great work it is doing. Recently it caused the railroads to Withhold an order for an Increase in freight on grain to the seaboard long enough to permit the Indiana dealers an opportunity to ship at profit This one act saved the grain men of the state over SIOO,OOO. The board la constantly compelling the roads to reduce exorbitant freight rates. It has broken up freight blockades and has enforced the laws enacted for the benefit of the trainmen. Under the new conditions no road in Indiana can raise a rate without permission from the commission, which in itself is sufficient cause for the latteris existence. The commission is pursuing a conservative, business-like policy, that has commended it to everyone save the Democrats. who as usual are decrying anything that the Republteaas fan tea feopten WaeflL