30 APRIL 1870, Page 3

Mr. Denison has succeeded in obtaining a Select Committee to

inquire into the administration of the law granting compensation for injuries by railway accidents. He seemed to favour a plan -which is in its way clever, but which would not protect the public, —that a limit should be placed on compensations, but that a pas- senger should have the right on payment of a fixed tariff to insure higher compensation. That would often prevent hardship, but it would not make the Railway Companies careful, as they would make an arrangement with the Accident Insurance Company, under which they might kill people at discretion. It is only when the State owns the Railways that the law can be relaxed. It -might, however, be an improvement to dispense with juries.