, 1897-12-03

Washington. Dec. 1.-The hearing
given by the interstate cons
mission to the representatives of the
railroads which have petitioned for an
extension of time in which to comply
with the coupler law passed in 1893
was resumed today
William Brown, general solicitor of
the Chicago and Alton railroad, replied
at some length TO the protest made by
Mr.. Gompcrs yes crday against any ex-
tension to roads which had made no
effort to comply with the law. He
spoke, he said. for the stockholders Of
the railroads, who We're as much entitl-
ed to receive their dividends as the
labOrers working for the companies
We're their daily wages. On behalf OF
800 of the employees of his road. Mr..
Brown presented to the commission a
petition for Il reasonable extension.
Representatives of other delinquent
roads rendered their excuses to the
commission. and in each instant esti-
mated the time required for the full
equipment of their individual lines.
All united. however. in the request of
Mr.. Brown for a general five-year ex-
tension.
EX-Congressman Payson of Illinois,
representing the Southern Pacific rail.
road. in the course of his remarks sug-
gested that the commission make the
extension:
The period within which every COM
mon carrier owning cars used in inter-
state traffic shall comply with the pro-
visions of the act of congress entitled
etc. is hereby extended to Jan. l, 1903;
but. provided. that any such common
carriers in default as to equipment with
couplers Or with train brakes, as re-
quired by said act, in whole or In part,
January /. 1898. shall during each cal
endar year thereafter make good at
least 20 per cent of such default in
equipment or, in default OF such partial
performance. the provisions of said
act shall be applicable to all cars Of
such common carriers not properly
equipped under said act. New cars
shall be properly equipped before use.
After the afternoon session President
Smith of the Louisville and Nashville
in the course of his explanation of the
delinquency of his road. expressed the
opinion that the time was coming when
the people of this country would de,
mand the confiscation and government
ownership of railroads.
While President Thomas of the Nash
Vile, Chattanooga and St. Louis road
was addressing the committee. Chair
man Morrison asked what the road
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 COM
ing prosperity was so great that he had
broken the record Of a lifetime and had
voted for Mckinley.
When a southern man does that"
he said. his faith is absolute"
Questions asked by the commission
ers developed the fact that 10 per cen
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 this
commission this afternoon was l.. S.
Coffin, formerly OF the Iowa railway
commission. who contended that the
commissioners duty vas to execute the
law; that the effect on the of
a refusal to extend its provisions was
not to be considered. The object of the
was the protection of the
lives and limbs of the railroad employees
and passengers. Figures furnished by
Secretary Moseley of the commission
the total number of cars owned by
the roads which filed petitions for an
extension to be 1869, 704, of which those
owning 2SS, $50 cars had between IS and
100 per cent of their rolling stock
equipped, those owning 23O,271 cars be-
tweent % and 20 nor cont aouippad and