"MAN FAILURE."

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1899, 6 November 1913, Page 6

"MAN FAILURE."

SCATHING OFFICIAL REPORT ON AMERICAN RAILWAY.

"Man failure" was the subject of an important (report issued reccnitly by the liitor-Stato Commerco Commission on the disastrous series of train-wrecks, involving great loss of life, which lias marked the recent history of the New Yorit, New Haven, and Hartford railway system (writes, the New York correspondent of tlio "Daily Mail"). After declaring that the latest accident, in which 21 persons wore killed and 35 injured, was duo directly to tlio negligence and recklessness of tlio drivers and conductors of tho colliding trains, tho Commissions publishes a list of the directors of tlio railway, which includes tho names of some of the best-known millionaires in tho country, among them Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan, Mr. William Rockefeller, and Mr. George F. Baker. It proceeds: "On this directorate wore and Bra men whom a confiding public reoognisa as magicians in the arena of finance and wizards in tho construction, operation, and consolidation of systems of railways. Tlio publio, therefore. rested secure that investments and travelling would both bo safe. Experience lias shown that this confidence was not justified as to either finance or safety." The Commission concludes by warning tho directors that they cannot divest themselves of their legal responsibilities for tiro safety of the railway by delegating them upon officials, adding that the fault will bo theiTs if tho Government soes itself compelled by special legislation to take measures for safeguarding traffic upon tho 'lino. Tho Commission expressly states: "'Man failure' in this case tiogan high up in official authority, and it was Slot an unnatural consequence that it reached down to those in positions lower in official rank hut weighted with great responsibility."