Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-02
SAFETY ON WAYS
HEARING BEFORE THE INTER-
STATE COMMERCE. COMMISSION.
COWEN And MORRISEY AT ODDS.
They Indulge I'm n Sensational Ex-
change Of Views ns to- an Alleged
Unauthorized Assumption of Au-
fhorffy.

WASHINGTON, d. c., December l.
day opened the hearing of the railroads
which have petitioned for an extension
OF the time in which they may comply
with the law OF 1893, requiring them to
equip their cars and engines with auto
matte car-couplers, handrails, and air
brakes. The representatives or attorneys
of several hundred railways, and also
leading labor organizations, were pres
ent. John X. Cowen, one Of the re-
ceivcrs of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
way, presented the general subject to
the commission.
Previous to this general presentation,
Chairman Morrison, OF the commission,
called for the oral argument Of the roads
which were completely equipped under
the law, but which had petitioned the
commission for an extension Of time, as
applied to the cars Of other roads which
had not complied. Samuel Hoar, repre-
senting the Boston and Albany railroad,
made a brief argument on this point. to
show the utter paralysis OF traffic which
must follow II roads which have com
piled with the law were compelled to
cease hauling unequipped cars.
He further said that it would cost from
s4O.0OO.OOO to $50, 1000 for the railroads to
comply with the law. This money must
be earned. If the commission declined
an extension, the roads would be abso-
lutely unable to equip their cars out of
their own resources and would nave 10
take il out Of the wages.
=. r. Morrissy representing the
brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, the
Conductors Association. the Locomotive
Engineers, the Brotherhood Of Locomo-
tive Firemen, and the Association Of
Railway Photographers. followed Mr..
Cowen with forcible presentation Of the
attitude of the railroad employees to-
ward the solicited legislation. During the
past five years 1000 railroad men had
been killed annually, and between 10000
and 5000 injured. OF these casualties,
60 per cent. were directly attributable to
the two evils this law was designed to
correct. He replied rather heatedly to
the intimation of wage-reduction thrown
out by Mr.. Cowen.
'I sneak in no defiant spirit" said he
but | want to say that when the ques-
ton Of reduction in wages Is presented
to US, we will meet 1t. If the alternative
of reducing wages or the manning and
death Of its members were presented to
the organizations which / represent, / do
not hesitate to say that they would pre-
fer to go out and equip the roads them
selves"
A SENSATION.
The hearing to-day closed with a some.
what sensational exchange between Mr..
Cowen and Mr.. Morrisey. Mr.. Cowen, in
closing indignantly repudiated the idea
Mr MnrrieqV
way represented the employees of the
baltimore and Ohio railroad He warn
ed the commission against the humani-
tartan view urged by the labor leaders.
He used no yelled irony in his reference
to Mr.. Morrisey's assumption OF aC-
thority. The latter jumped to his feot
when Mr. Cowen sat down. He refused TO
he discredited, and he denied that he had
assumed authority not vested in him
Eighty-fve per cent. of the employees OF
the Baltimore and Ohio, he said, were
members Of the Brotherhood OF Railway
Trainmen, and at the Toronto convention
last year he had unanimously been en-
powered to state the position of its mem
hers 10 the Interstate Commission. Every
division of the Baltimore and Ohio had
been represented at that convention. upon
that authority, he said. he denied Mr..
Governs statement.
81 said the question of a years extern
sion had never been presented to the
employees of the Baltimore and ono
interrupted Mr.. Cowen, land / repeat IL
."The Toronto convention" retorted Er.
Norrisey. dyoted against any extension"
He then explained, further, that he mao
appealed to the convention not to tie
his hands, but to leave him free TO use
his Judgment, and that that discretion had
been accorded him.
Soon afterward the hearing was ad-
iourned until tomorrow.