The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-12-09
A VERY IMPORTANT HEARING
REPRESENTATIVES, OF RAILRo.ns
AND RAILROAD EMPLOYEES RE-
FORE COMMISSION.
AUTOMATIC COUPLERS and BRAKES
e within Which to Comply with
the Law Is About to Expire-Tbe
railroads Ask "a Five-Year
Extension.

washington, Dec. 1.-The interstota
commerce commission today opened the
tit;ng OF the railroads which have NO.
u.ioned for an extension of The 1.-Two
iar, when they may comply with fine
NV OF 1898. requiring them to n,nin
oneir cars and engines with automnt,c
Sar couplers, hand rails and air brakes
me representatives or ATTORNEYS Of
in "J hundred railroads and also of
ant laDor organizations were bres
ent. ana the chamber In which the com.
mission met was crowded to the doors
inIenselnterest was manifested.
'ohn ~; Cowan, one of the receivers
VI the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
poesented the general subject to the
lIrevlous to his general presentation,
chairman Morrison of the commission
calied tor the oral argument of the
roads which were completely equipped
uIuer the law. but which had petition
ca the commission for an extension of
the time as to carrying the cars of other
roads which had not complied.
samuel Hoar, representing the Boston
anu Albany Railroad, made brief ar
sument on this point to show the utter
paralysis of traffic which must follow
II roads which had complied with the
law were compelled to cease hauling un-
equipped cars. Mr.. Cowan presented ut
some length the whole question, lepIe-
sentlng In this issue not the Baltimore
and Ohio but the Lake Shore. The
Lake Shore, he said. was one of the
most prosperous roads in the country
and 1t had been able to comply fully
with the law, but it was here uniting
with the other roads in asking for an
extension. The business of the rail
roads of the country were largely a
unit and those roads which had equip
ped their cars could not haul unequpped
cars without technically violating the
law. Mr.. Cowen said that he was
chairman of committee at this hear
ing which represented about 100000 of
the $4,000 freight cars engaged in in
terstate commerce. The question of
the passenger cars, he said, could be
dismissed, as they were practically all
equipped. OF the freight cars of the
country al IL per cent were now equip
ped with car couplers and 36 1-2 per
cent had the additional air brake at
tachment. He argues that this vas
sufficient evidence that the roads had
made an honest effort to comply with
the law. He offered as the principal
reason why the roads had not COM
piled fully the industrial depression
which followed the passage of the act
in 1893, which, he said, had rendered
them financially unable to make the
outlay required by the law.
He contended that the law as passed
was defective and that congress recog
nized this by giving the commission the
power to- suspend its operation. The
single question presented to me com
mission, he argued, was the method and
extent of extension, because. unless an
extension was granted, interstate com
merce must cease. He urged that the
extension be for five years with provi,
sion for an equipment of one-lifth OF
the cars each year, thus working up TO
full and complete compliance. Ii there
was then default, cars not equipped. he
said. could be withdrawn from rhe i'll
terstote commerce without endangering
the Transportation facilities of the co'ln-
try He further said that it would cost
from $40 100000 to S50.000,OOO for the
rcads TO comply with the law. This
money must be earned. If the comlnis-
sion declined an extension the roaGs
would be absolutely unable 10 coup
their cars out of their own resources.
~ oost hn said. must come out of
Tho wages of. the employees If the rnads
nero to he driven beyond their financial
ability. ,,;,od ,ars for
tho control of the trains ranged, accord
ing TO estimates given by experts pres
ont from 90 to 60 per cent. Tho
p. P. Morrissey.. Representing t ti,e
Brotherhood of Railway lralliilleh' t ,tie
Railway Conductors assoclo T Iio,'
tho Protherhood of Locomotive FlTeInrh
.ilS 5 tbe Association of Railway Ieles-
anu ar followed Mr.. Cowen with =
tarpo;hia presentation of the attitlinS VI
l;,noaJ emnloyes towards the soiicitcu
raliaos% lie agreed with Mr.. Oo"en
mot in large measure TINS Ir, M"9 law
orset commercial question. lraas "t 70
tbe main features OF wnltsn r,t vi DIV Of
become operative on tne or,rasented the
the new year, ne saiu, iV he American
near near an" as represented by their eii .;sus
peop,e IN congress. The assocl,t.loHi u,
ser'" 1,,i,;ch he appeared were u,iie ."
lol Vim AGAINST any such ullreuomd
protesttinpSs as had been prnpontrbu c
be- 3ie vears. he said, would rei''ei '"N
rmu of the law nugators. oooO ,sil
p"n1r During the past nyc y9a ann nT and
road men have been h, Rli 900 " ;n;nred. Of
between z -aItios GO pcr cent were Directly
these cas1laitieS' w t,o p rwo evils this law
attrihutanluo - 70 correct. The slaughlett
was desiga t;r,o ~ rs long as the, present.
wouia i.ons Irrnmaired. He thought IssI I,h
cona.'t nHonId he done with rGau d | rtter,
,n;nS ,hIe TO comply partLIlH!, ,';od rofh-
being .snao "1 the law. lie rep.lSfu wage ,r
cr Jh,eatedly TO the ln n, NIr Cowen.
reduction thrown , oHt ~ shirt" said Mr..
y sppmN lint l want to say Ilat il WIRE" nre
MorriSnsii,n of reduction OF W 4ho olterna-
the ones SUI I'LL meet it. If the a1gi
sented we cling wages or the 5 h' a. me
tive OF I rev were presenleu 40 ,ot
OF n nSivat;ons which representa- ue,onId nrefer
orga .1to to say that they w rOods :hem-
he qo out and equip the rOau'
selves" ..or+;on to great flnanc .la
losses se tie beneficial a Gn death and dis;
roads ma ooi r% $4,000 600 had enough to
ability r; rn the past five years +ba Louis
cut CUTIE CUTIE e eouin road like 'he i
vile and Ns sshTTibS S Chairman Mo s,lr"aG
Mr.. Mo Nor agreed that the m 1aHr
empioyes, nus, us not exceed , ftnr' Of the
In discussidhes Inv Mr.. Cowen. MI cant
rssey asked # the hSd the power to i'm
conditions it12T TO say" reped d oh' tFnrs
II am so ..that there ares are sUi' and that
NO tcloSmUmiesion does not N
!ne of them e Sorth Carolina