Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-12-02

the law. He replied rather heatedly to
the iptimation OF wage reduction
thrown out by MIR. Cowen.
'I speak in no defiant spirit" said he,
ssbut want to say that when the Ques-
ton of reduct ion of wages is pre-
sented to us we will meet it. II the
alternative of req uction of wages or the
manning and death OF their members
were presented to the organizations
which | represent, I do not hesitate to
say that they WOULD prefer to go out
and equip the rosu1s themselves"
He called attention to the great
financial losses the beneficial compan-
les of the railros I'd associations had
sustained In dc nth and disability
claims, 100000 had been paid out
during the past Fl We years, enough to
completely equip a road like the
Louisville & Nashville. When pressed
by Chairman Morrison, Mr.. Morrissey
replied that the railroad employees
agreed that the maximum extension
must not exceed a year. In discussing
the proposition of the railroads made
by Mr.. Cowen, Mr.. NIorrissey asked II
the commission in granting an extern
sion had the power to impose condi-
tiOns.
"I am sorry to say" replied Chair
man Morrison, 'th:lt there are some
things the commissi on does not know
and that is one of tn en-
Ex-senator Butler, of South Caro-
lima. on behalf of the Mobile & OHIO
road as a member of the Senate at the
time of the pa ssage of the act, connrm-
ed Mr.. Governs statement that the
law was tentative.
Mr.. Loomis, of the New York Cen
tral. whose road has complied fully,
asked for the extension on the ground
that the commission could not con-
template such an interruption OF
traffic as must follow the inability OF
his and other terminal roads to haul
unequipped cars.
G.. A. Rhodes, representing the Me-
chanical department OF the Cnlcago'
Burlington & Quincy, urged as an ao-
ditional reason for an extension that
haste would put a premium on the
CONTINENT of cars with lneffectual
safety appliances.
Those which had between Is and loo
nor cent of their cars equipped and
those with between so and IS per cent
were called and the reports OF each
rave an estimate of time in which the
work of complying with the law could
be completed.
After a recess Mr.. Julius Rosendale,
of Philadelphia, on behalf OF hlmsell
and MANY eminent divines, whom he
cold he represented, and among whom
be mentioned Cardinal Gibbons, enter
oirC Granting
tension of time.
Counsel for various roads which an
nounced-the ability of their own roaas
to comply with the law, some WITHIN
@ very brief period, urged the futllIty
of separate action+in the case Oh tne
various roads.
They all urged that the roads be
treated as unit and general order
of extension be made
Samuel Gompers, President OF the
American Federation Of Labor, joined
in Mr.. Morrissey's protest against any
undue extension OF the time Tor COM
pliance with the law.
The lives and the limbs of the rail-
road employees, which were in peril, he
said, cried as loud and appealed as
strongly to the commission as the div
Mr.. Gompers was very emphatic. He
thought that no extension whatever
should be granted to any railroaod
that had paid dividends since the law
was passed.
Mr.. Clark, representing the Chicago
E. Great Western. said that his company
could not afford and had not the facil-
tiles to equip the unequipped cars with
couplers within one year. There were
about 5000 of these.
'What were the earnings of your
road last year," asked Commissioner
Prouty.
"Over $4,000, OOO."
"Why could not the road apply $780,
600 next year to equipping its cars with
couplers?"
ct would not be economical" said
Mr.. Clark.
Ex-Congressan Clardy, of Missouri,
representing the Iron Mountain road,
argued that the commission was charg-
ed with the execution Of the law and
had plenary powers. The commission,
he declared, had the power to extend
the time with FORGETTING conditions. He
endorsed the suggestion of Mr.. Cowen
and the committee. The railroads
whose equipent was below so per cent.
were called and the counsel of particu-
lar roads in many cases explained the
reason why more progress had not been
made.
Commissioner Knapp asked if the
commission granted an extension for
one year with the understanding that
one-ffth of the cars should be equip
ped in that period and there should be
defaults, whether there would not then
be the same practical difficulty to face
as existed now. Mr.. Cowen replied in
the affirmative, and insisted that the
commission must allow sufficient time
To grant two years extension, for in
stance, he said, with the absolute GER
tainty that the roads would not COM