For Railroad Men

On July 1 there vi!l go into effect an act to promote the safety of employés and travelers upon railroads, which dealares : It shall be unlawful for any railroad coinpany to nse any car in inter-state commerce that is not provided with secure grab irons or hand holds in the ends and sides of each car for greater security to men in coupling and uncoupling cars. After July 1, 1895, nocars, either loaded or unloaded, shall be sed in inter-state traffic which do not comply with the standard height of draw bars for freight cars. Secretary Moseley of the inter-state commerce commission says the railroads are or will be ready to cöinply with both provisions of the law. All cars have been provided with secure grab irons or hand holds, and the standard liei'ght of drawbars on freight cars has been determined to be Zi% inches for standard gauge railroads in the United States ; maximum variation froni that standard height, to be allowed between the drawbars of empty and Ioaded cars, both for standard and narrow gauge railroads in the United States, three iuclios. This law was the outcome of persistent effort in congress and repeated urgent recommendations sent to congress by the president for legislation for the protection of the lives of railroad einployes. It is stated that during one year alone :i0 b-iakemen were killed and 7,841 maimed while engaged in coupling cars, and that the total number of railroad employés killed during the year was 2,451 and the number injured was 22,390.