The morning times., 1895-07-13
PLEADING FOR MORE TINE
Railways Ask Extension to Put
GrabirOnS on Cars.
REASONS FOR THE REQUEST
Hearing Before Interstate Commerce
Commission - Representatives of
Railroad Employees Don't Object to
Granting the Demand If Assured
the Law VIII BE Compiled with.
Thn Interstate Comm

The Interstate Commission yesterday
granted hearing TO representatives. OF
the New York, Lake Erie Il Western Rail
road Company, who asked for an extern
sion OF time in placing grabirons or hand
holds in The ends and sides of their cars
for greater security TO employees in coup
ing aud uncoupnng cars which was re-
/ qUired 10y On act Of Congress which took
effect July lst, 1885.
Samuel T. Conklin, for the receivers OF
the road, addressed the Commissioners. He
said that when the act was passed the
employees of the road were directed TO
commence plans TO comply with it. Mr..
/ Conkln asked that that an extension of
one year be granted the road TO enable
il TO complete the work and 10 allow
| connecting lines TO finish it which was
/ now progressing well.
Mr. Cloud, secretary of the Master Car
/ baldcrs' Association, was heard His as
sociation, be said comprised all the trunk
lines in tie United States, Canada ana
MeHico, which owned about 1,150,00O
freight cars.
DETAILS STILL IN DOUBT.
He stated that the association was not
=
other details as 10 placing grabhoIds on all
classes of cars, bat had long sought TO
make cars as safe as possible and get
couplings the same height. He detailed
the practical difficulties which had been
found in the effort to carry the Law into
effect
MT Alvord Z. Brown, second vice grand
master OF the Brotherhood Of Trainmen,
J Of a 81 ~ nv ia
! floor and asserting that there was a great
I lack OF uniformity IN both the size and
4 location Of haud-holders. He thought the
! raUrOad managers should adopt a uniform
! system and submit IT 10 practical men.
/ ae suggested that there had been sufficient
I time Tor putting the law INTO effect, ard
said that If a railroad company had posted
an order which has not been compiled
with by employees for two years the result
. would De different from what IL had
been IN this case
MT West replied that if the tralnmen
4 had come forward with a suggestion II
. would have been adopted by the roads,
10 which Mr. Brown responded: IF I
. had only known OF some management
that would listen to me / would have been
4 there at a forty-mile gait"
no FACTIONAL OBJECTION.
Mr. p H. Morrissey. first vice grand
master Of the Brotherhood of Trainmen,
was anxious that il be understood that
the trainmen had no disposition to make
taCtional objection TO anything that the
/ railroad men might offer on the con-
/ trary, they We're anxious TO give the roads
/ the best consideration If they could pre-
sent any good reasons for the delay asked
for But 1T was ms observation that the
law had rot been complied with, and he
did not believe there has been sufficient
Tested in carrying the law INTO effect.
He thought there should be two grab
irons on each end and each side OF every
car
Chairman Morrison said thore had been
applications from several railroads and
the commission had received notice OF many
mora Tor an extension similar to that asked
by the Erie. and intinated that when a
decision should be reached il would apply
10 all roads.
The greater part of the afternoon session
was devoted 10 the presentation Of petitions
from roads otner than the Erie to be con,
considered as parties TO the application for
an eNten@.on Of time. Mr.. Cloud, on
behalf ol the Master Car Builders Associa-
ton, presented fIfty-five letters authorIz
ing hIm 10 represent as many roads in ask.
ing this extension, besides which petitions
were pr scented by the individual attorneys
OF the Sesboard Air Line system. the Lake
SHORE ana michigan The Big / oar, the Nickel
Plate, the Boston ana Maine, and the PhIia
dalphia and Reading roads.
no OBJECTIONS TO EXTENSIONS.
Mt. Myrrissay stated duying the afternoon
that the tTainmen would not object TO an
extension Of the time until the Ist OF Jauu,
AIRY next, if they could have assurances that
tho roads nthe meantime would devote thcir
energies 10 a compliance with the law.
ID. D. Sweeney, OF the SwiJchmCn'S As
sociation, advocated an extension of time
in accordance with the petition. He said
such q course was in the interest OF the
swItchmen' as if the railroads were forced
To immediate compliance with law, The
work would De poorly done.
The session closed with a general dis
cuSson, in which the commissioners. the
railroad attorneys and the practica l
railroad men all participated, as TO the
number and proper location Of hand hold
ers and grab1rons, showing that there was Il
wide difference Of opinion among all
classes on the subject
Mr. Cloud said in response to n Sug
gcstIon OF Commissioner Knapp that he
would see that the executive committee
OF the Master Car Builders Association
consulted the bTakemen and switchmen
before deciding anything.
4 The chairman announced that the com
mission would take the petition for al
extension of time under consideration.