The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-02
WILL RAILROADS
GET EXTENSION!
Coupler Case Before In
terstate Commission.
THEY ASK FIVE YEARS. TIME
II the Law Is Enforced They Say 1t
Will Paralyze Traffic.
heated CoflOquy Between Receiver
Cowan and r. III. Morrixsey, Rep
resentfng Organized Laborers-
The COmmix mixSioners Are Warned
Against Humanitarian Views
Sixty Per Cent. of the Men Acct
dentaliy Killed Lost Their Lives
Through Lack Of Proper Equip
ment-HearinY Continued To-day.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-The interstate
commerce commission today opened the
hearing OF the case of the railroads which
have petitioned for an extension OF time
in which they may comply with the law of
1893, requiring them TO equip cars and
engines with automatic car couplers, hand
rails and air brakes. The representatives
or attorneys of several hundred railroads,
and also Of leading labor organizations,
were present. John cowan, one OF the
receivers of the Baltimore & Ohio. pre-
sented the general subject to the commits
sion.
Previous TO his general presentation,
Chairman Morrison, of the commission.
called for the oral argument of the roads
which are completely equipped under the
law, but which had petitioned the COM
mission for an extension of time. as ap-
piled to the case of other roads which had
not complied. Samuel Hoar. representing
the Boston & Albany. made a brief arga-
ment on this point TO show the utter
paralysis of traffic which must follow IL
the roads which had complied with the
law were compelled TO cease hauling un-
equipped cars.
The Case for the Roads.
Mr.. Cowan presented the whole question.
representing in this issue not the B3lti-
more & Ohio but the Lake Shore road
The Lake Shore, he said. was prosperous
and had been able to comply fully with
the law but II was here uniting with 9TH
err roads In asking for an extension. The
business Of the railroads of the country
was largely unit. and those roads which
had equipped their cars could not haul un-
equipped cars without technically violating
the law.
Mr.. cowan said he was chairman OF a
committee at this hearing which repre-
sented about coo 600 of the 99S, go freight
cars engaged In interstate commerce. OF
the freight cars of the country 4iia per
cent. were now equipped with car coup
iers, and 36ts per cent. had the the add!-
tionai air brake attachment. He offered
as the principal reason why the roads
should not fully comply with the law
the industrial depression which followed
the passage of the act in 1898 which. he
SAID, had rendered them unable to make
the financial outlay required
Mr.. Cowan contended that the law was
defective and that congress recognized this
by giving the commission the power 10 sls-
pend its operation. The siRgIe question
presented 10 the commission. he argued.
was the method and extent Of extension.
because. unless an extension was granted
interstate commerce must cease. He ar
gued that rhe extension be for five years.
with provision for an equipment of one
fifth Of the cars each year thus working
up TO full and complete compliance He
further said that Il would cost from sih. 00.-
Gsa TO So, 600, 900 for the railroads 10 comply
with the law This money must be earned.
IF the commission declired an extension
the roads would be absolutely unable to
equip their cars out OF their own re-
sources. The cost he said, must come out
of the employees If the roads We're 70 be
driven beyond their financial ability. The
percentage OF equipped cars for the con-
troll Of trains ranged. according 10 estt-
mates given by experts present. from 2s
10 60 per cent.
Employees Opposed to Extension.
p. H Morrissey. representing the Broth
erhood 0f Railway Trainmen. the Railroad
Conductors AsSocIa ton. the Locomotive
Engineers. Locomotive Firernen and the
4 Association OF Railroad Telegraphers. fol-
lowed Mir. Cowan with foFchle presenta-
ton of the attitude OF the railroad en-
ployes toward the solicited extension. He
agreed with Mr.. Cowan that In large
measure this was great commercial
question The associations for which he
appeared were unit III protesting against
any such unreasonable extension as had
been proposed. FIVE years. he said. would
render the purpose Of the law nugatory-
During the past i've years 2eo railroad
men had been killed annually and between
za On and - (0a injured. Of those casual
tfea - per cent. were directly attributed 20
the new evils this .aw was designed 20 cor
rect. The slaughter would continue as
long aT the present conditions remained
He thought something should be done
with roads which had utterly disregarded
the law H replied rather heatedly' 70 the
int matioa of wage reduction thrown out
by Mr. Cowan.
Il speak in 30 defiant spirit he said.
"hlt / want 10 say tnat when The question
0f reduction of wages aS presented 10 Us
Wa VIII meet II. II the alternative o. re-
G3lcng wages or manning and the death
OF j.s Members were presented 70 the OF
gauizstlan which / represent. ] do rot
hesitate 70 say that tfsE would prefer 20
GO CUT and equip the roads themselves
He called attention 20 The srea; financial
losses tnc bener..sai associations OF ,he
roads had sustained. Death ana disability
CLAIMS amounting 10 s., 80 80 had been paid
GU. luring me past i've years, enough %
completely equip a read Ike the Louisville
* Nashville.
When pressed BY Chairman Morrison.
Nj Morrissey replied that the maximum
extension must uot exceed year.
II discussing the proposition o1 me rail-
roads. Mr. Morrzssey asked Il the com
IN sszon. n granting an extension. had
the power 10 impose conditions.
Il an sorry % say" replied Chairman
Morrison 90 tnat taeTe are S1sT7e things the
commission does not know. and that u one
% them"
Mr.. LOOMS q the New York Central,
whose road has complied fuily. asked for
the extension on the groun8 fsAt the conf
mission could nor contemplate sf1ch an
OF traffic as musG follow the
inability of his and other roads % haul
uneaUipPs6 cars.
The several roads which had fully coF7-
rHed those which had between - and ls9
pr cent Of their ears equipped. ard those
with b. veaen % and = Teg cent. wer-
called. ard the representatives of each
gave su estimate of tine N which the
work ~ complying with thA lAw could be
completed
Protests From the Clergy
Aster bret vecess. julius Roser Aale.