The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-07
The RAILWAY MEN
ARGUING THE PETITION FOR EX-
TENSION OF TIME

MI. Bumpers Speech Against Extension Of
Time Replied to-StockhOlder s' Dividends
Versus Employer Wages-MaDy Excuses
Made by the Roads for Not Complying
With the:Law-Cars Not Worth the Equip
ment-ineD Duty of the Commissioner
Washington, December 2.-The hearing
given by the interstate COM
mission to the representatives Of rail-
roads which nav petftioned for an extern
sion OF time in which to comply with
the car coupler law passed in 1888, was
resumed today. William Brown, general
solicitor Of the Chicago and Alton rail-
road, replied at some length to the
protest made by Mr.. Gompers yesterday
against any extension to roads which had
made no effort to comply with the law
He spoke, ne said, for the stockholders
of the railroads who were so much en-
titled to receive their dividends as the
1aborers working for the companies were
to their daily wages. on behalf Of 800
OF the employees Of his road Mr.. Brown
also presented to the commission a petit
ton for d reasonable extension. 1t was
"A practical and physical impossibility, he
said, to comply with the law. II grant
a reasonable extension would bring
every road, especially trunk lines into
active sympathy with the law; to refuse
would be to punish those who had com
piled.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Browns re-
marks representatives of other deliquent
roads rendered their excuses to the COM
mission. All united in the request of Mr..
Cowen for a general five year extension.
Lack of funds, reduced earnings, want of
shop facilities and the difficulty of de-
termining the safest and most econnomi-
cal appliance were the main reasons ad-
vanced for delinquincies.
In the Afternoon session President
Smith, Of the Louisville and Nashville, in
the course of his explanation of the de-
linquincy OF his road expressed the opin-
ion that the time was coming when the
people of this country would demand the
confiScation and government ownership
of railroads.. In connection with his ar
Sument President Smith presented a pc
tttion in favor of an extension signed by
PA employees of the Louisville and Nash
Vile. He also presented voluminous pc
titions signed by shippers in all parts of
the south.
While President Thomas. of the Nash
vile, Chattanooga and St. Louis. road
was addressing the committee, Chairman
Morrison asked what the roads would
do in the matter in compliance with
the law If their earnings did not increase.
Mr.. Thomas created much merriment by
replying that his confidence in coming
prosperity has been so great that he had
broken the record of a life time and
had voted for Mckinley. When a
Southern man does that" said he, "his
faith is absolute"
Questions asked by the commissioners
developed the fact that 10 per cent. Of
the freight cars now in service were not
worth equipment. Those cars would be
retired during the period of extension
Among others who addressed the COM
mission this afternoon was l.. S. Coffin,
formerly of the Iowa State railroad COM
mission who contended that the commits
SiOnerS duty was to execute the law:
that the effect of q refusal to extend it's
provisions on the was not to
be considered. The object of the legisIa-
ton was the protection of the lives and
limbs of railroad employees and passen-
gers.
Figures furnished by Secretary Nose
ley, of the commission show the total
number OF cars owned by the roads which
filed petitions for al extension to be l.
ot9, lO4, Of which those owning 2SS, $50 cars
mad between 70 per cent. and 100 per cent.
OF their rolling stock equipped; those
owning 156, S41 cars below % per cent. The
hearing was adjourned at 6 O'Clock D. m. |
until tomorrow. |