The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-12-09

oomlnissloh could not contemplate such
IN interruption of traffic as must follow
LIZ luz inaDillty OF his and other roads to
maui unequipped cars.
EX-Congressman Harrison of Alabama
maze the point that the yellow fever in
southern roads,
The several roads which had fully COM
pned, those who have 70 and 80 per cent |
OF their cars equipped and those with be-
tween ~ and 70 per cent were called |
ana the representative of each gave an |
estimate of time in which the work of |
complying with the law could be con-
templated.
After recess. Mr.. julius Rosendale of |
Philadelphia, on behalf of himself and
many eminent divines whom he said he
represented. and among whom he men
TONED Cardinal Gibbons, entered a pro-
test against granting any extension of
time. Counsel for various roads which
announced the inability of their own
roads to comply with the law within a
very brief period, urged the futility of
separate action in the case of the various
roads.
They all urged that the roads be treat
ed as unit and a general order of Cx-
tension be made.
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor. joined in
Mr. Morrissey's protest against any nm
due. extension of the time for compliance
with the law. The lives and limbs of the
railroad employees which were in peril,
he said. cried as loud and appealed as
strongly to the commission as the divi
dends of the railroads. On one point Mr..
Gompers was very emphatic. He thought
no extension should be granted to any
road that had paid dividends since the
law was passed.
Mr.. Clark, representing the Chicago
and Great Western, said his company
could not afford and had not the facili-
ties to equip the unequipped cars with
couplers within one year. .here were
about 5000 of these.
"What were the earnings of your road
last year," asked Commissioner Prouty.
"Over $4000,000."
"Why could not the road apply $G0,-
600 next year to equipping its cars with
couplers?"
at would not be economical" replied
| Mr.. Clark.
Ex-Congressman Clarey of Missouri,
representing the Iron Mountain road, ar
gueE that the commission was charged
! with the execution of the law and plenary
powers. The commission, he declared,
had the power to extend the time with
suggestion of Mr.. Cowen and the com
| mission.
| The railroads whose equipment was be-
low so per cent were called, and the
counsel of particular roads in many
cases explained the reasons why more
progress had not been made.
The hearing today closed with some
what sensational exchange between Mr.
Cowen and Mr.. Morrssey. Mr.. Cowen
in closing, Indignantly repudiated the idei
that Mr. Gonpers or Mr.. MOrrissey in an!
ptn1 nf
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Thos
employees, he declared, had not been con
suited and he resented the assumption
of the labor leaders that they Represented
the workers on his road. He warned
the committee against the Humanitarian
view regarded by those gentlemen. TIL
perils of the new appliances, he said, ha
not been established. Statistics on hi
road showed they killed more but maine
less than the old system. In bushes
matter, he said with some temper, it wa
always dangerous to yield to allege
humanitarian considerations. He use
no yelled irony in his reference to NJ
Morrisscy's assumption of authority.
Mr.. Morrissey jumped to his feet whe
Mr.. Cowen sat down. He had tried, h
said. to occupy a dignified attitud
throughout the hearing. He did not d.
!, sire to give offense, and he had maintain
| ed silence WUllc the StdteIleIltS VI III
representatives of the railroads were b.
ing made, but, he said, he deemed it hi
atty to reply to the insinuation of MI
Cowen that he did not represent the raj
way trainmen. He refused to be dis
credited, and he denied that he had as
sumed authority not vested in hin
Eighty-fve per cent of the employees o
the Baltimore and Ohio, he said, wer
members of the Brotherhood of Railroad
Trainmen, and at the Toronto convention
last year he had been unanimously EN-
powered to state the position of its mem
bers to the interstate commerce commits
sion. Every division of the Baltimor
and Ohio had been represented at tn
convention. Upon that authority, h
said, he denied Mr.. Governs statement.
81 said the question of years ex
tension had never been presented to TIL
employees of the Baltimore and Ohio" in
terrupted Mr.. Cowen. "and repeat it.
"The Toronto convention retortet
Mr.. Morrissey, "voted against any ex
tension"
He then explained further that he hat
aDpealed to the convention not to tie hi
hands, but to leave him free TO use hi
Judgment, and that this discretion hat
been accorded him.
Soon afterward the meeting was ad
journed until tomorrow.