The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-02

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The several rusds which had fuliy COM
piled. those which had between as and W
with between ~ ard Is per cent wers
called and the representative Of each gave
an estimate Of time In which the work Of
pleted.
After recess Mr.. Julius Reasonable Of
Philadelphia. on behalf Of himself and
many eminent divines whom he said he
represented, and among whom he meu-
toned Cardinal Gibbons. entered q protest
against granting any extension OF time.
Counsel for various roads which announced
the inability OF their own roads TO comply
urged the futility Of separate action In the
case OF the various roads. They all urged
that the roads be treated as a unit and a
general order OF extension be made. !
samuel Gompers. president Of the Amcri-
can Federation OF Labor, Joined In Mr..
Morriseey's protest against any undue ex-
tension Of 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 committee as the dividends OF the rail-.
roads. On one point Mr.. Gompex was
very emphatic. He thought NJ extenr,na
whatever should be granted to any road
that had paid dividends since the law was
passed.
Mr. Clark. representing the Chicago ana
Great Western, said his company could not
AFFORD and had not the facilities to equip
the equipped cars with coupers within
one year. There were about 5000 Of these.
What we're the earnings OF your road
last year," asked Commissioner Prouty.
over $4,000 0o."
why could not the road apply 100000
next year to eqaipping lite cars with coup
lers."
''Ic would not be economical" replied
Mr.. Clark
Ex- Congressman Clardy Of Missouri, rep.
resenting the Iron Mountain, argued that
the commission was charged with the exc
cution Of the law and had plenary powers.
The commission, he declared, had the
power to extend the time with forfeiting
conditions. He Endorsed the suggestion OF
Mr.. Cowen and the commission
Inc railroads whose equipment was be-
| low 80 per cent were called and the coun-
| sci OF particular roads in many cases ex-
planned the reasons why more progress had
not been made.
Commissioner Knapp asked II the COM
| mission granted an extension for one year
| with The understanding that one-i'fth OF
| the cars should be equipped in more time
and there should be default whether
there would not then be the same prac-
| tical difficulty to face as exists now.
| Mr.. Cowen replied in the affirmative and
| insisted that the committee must allow
sufficient time. To grant two years ex-
| tension, for instance, he said with the
absolute certainty that the roads could
not comply would be a continuous invita-
| tion to the railroads to default.
! The hearing today closed with some
what sensational exchange between Mr..
| Cowen and MIR. Morrissey. Mr.. Cowen. In
| closing, Indignantly repudlated the idea
that Mr.. Gompers or Mr., Mo-rissey in any
way represented the employees OF the Bal
| tmore and Ohio railroad. Those employees,
| he declared had not been consulted 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 urged by
| these gentlemen. The perils Of the new
| appliances he said had not hoen estab-
| lished Statistics on his road showed they
Killed more but MANNED less than the old
| system. In a business matter ne sad.
| with some temper. 1t was always dangerous
to yield to alleged humanitarian consid-
erations, He used no veilei irony in his
reference to Mr. Morrisseys assumption
of authority.
Mr. Morrssey jumped to his feet when
Mr. Cowen sat down. He had tried, he
said to maintain dignifed attitude
throughout the hearing. He did not de-
sire 10 give offsnse and he hal maintained
| silence while the statements o. the rep
made but, he said he deemed 1t his duty
to reply 10 the insinuation of Mr.. Cowen
that he did not represent the Railway
| Trainmen. He refused to be discredited
and he denied that he had assumed au-
| thority not vested in him Eighty five per
cent Of the employees OF the baltimore and
! Ohio he said were members of the Broth
erhopd OF Hallway Tranmen and at the
Toronto convention last year he had been
unanimously empowered TO state the posi-
ton of Its members to the Interstate COM
| merce commission. Every division OF the
baltimore and Ohio had been represented
at the convention. Upon that authority.
he said, he denied Mr.. Governs state
ment
/ said the question Of a years extension
had never been presented 10 the employees
Of the Baltimore and Ohio" Interrupted
MIR. Cowen, "erd repeat IT,"
1.-The Toronto convention rctorted Mr.:
| Morrissey. "voted against any extension =
He then explained further that he had
| appealed to the convention not to tie his
bands, but TO leave him free to use bis
Judgment and that this discretion had
Leen accorded him.
Seen aftprward the meeting was ad-
tourned until tomorrow.
THAT REMARKABLE run.