Omaha daily bee., 1897-12-02
RAILROADS PLEAD FOR TINE
Ask the Commission to Be Still Moro
Lenieut with Them,
FINANCIALLY UNABLE TO OBSERVE LAW

FINANCIALLY UNABLE TO OBSERVE LAW
Less Than Half the Freight Cars
Equipped with Automatic Brakes
and CoupIers-Hcnring Before
Interstate Commission.
WASHINGTON. Dee. 1.-The Interstate
Commerce commission today opened the
hearing of the railroads which have petit
toned for an extension of the time in which
they may comply with the law of 1898, re-
quiring them to equip their cars and engines
with automatic car couplers, hand rails and
brakes. The attorneys of several hundred
railways and also of representatives of labor
organizations were present John X. Gown,
one of the receivers Of the Baltimore & Ohio,
presented tho general subject to the com
mission. Previous to his general presenta-
ton Chairman Morrison of the commission
called for the oral argument of the case of
the road which we're completely equipped
under the law but had pettioned for an ex-
tension of time as applied to the case of other
representing the Boston & Albany, made a
brief argument on this point to show the
utter paralysis of traffic which must follow
if roads which had complied with the law
would cease hauling unequpped cars.
Mr.. Gown presented the whole question
representing in this issue not only the Bal
tmore & Ohio but the Lake Shore The
Lake Shore, he said, was a prosperous road
and had been able to comply fully with the
law, but it was here uniting with other
roads in asking for an extension. The bust
ness of the railroads of the country WIS
largely a unit and those roads which had
equipped their cars could not haul ur-
equipped cars without technically violating
the law. Mr.. GOWN said he was chairman
of a committee at this hearing which repre-
sented about 100000 of the $4,000 freight
cars engaged in interstate commerce. or the
freight cars of the country 44l5 per cent
were now equipped with car coupers ard
361a per cent had the additional air brake
attachment He offered as the principal
reason why the roads had not fully complied
with the law the industrial depression which
followed the passage of the act in 1898
which he said had rendered them finan-
cially unable to make the outlay required
by the law.
SAYS LAW IS DEFECTIVE.
He contemded that the law as passed was
defective and that congress recognized this
| by giving the commission the power to sus
pend its operation. The single question
presented to the commission, he argued, was
the method and extent of extension, because
unless an extension was granted interstate
commerce must cease. He urged that the
extension be for five years with provision for
an equipment of One-ftth of the cars each
year. thus working up to full and complete
compliance If there was then default cars
not equipped, he said, could be Withdrawn
from Interstate commerce without en-
Gengering the transportation facilities of the
IIn F,,rt thS, hat IL
from $40 100000 to $5O,OOO.00O for the rail-
roads to comply with the law. This money
must be earned. If the commission declined
an extension the roads would be absolutely
unable to equip their cars out of their own
resources. The cost, he said, must come
roads were to be driven beyond their finan-
Cial ability.
The percentage Of equipped cars for the
control of trains ranged, according to esti-
mates given by experts present from 20
| to so per cent.
P. H. Morrissey, representing the Brother
| hood OF Railroad Trainmen, the Railroad
| Conductors association, the Locomotive En-
gireers, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Fire
men and the Association Of Railroad Teleg-
raphers, followed Mr.. Cowen with forcble
presentation of the attitude of the railroad
employees toward the solicited extension He
agreed with Mr.. Cowcn that ina large meas
uTe this was great commercial question
, t,rit in nrotesting against ary sunh nm
reasonobia extersirn as had been pronosed
rive years he said would render he mr.
nosa Gf tho law nngatorv
INV p,upG,n Ir>r 1yrrrr0
n-NN ~ ~ wv n-nna ~,
during ire last hVe years ZV01 Iallroad
men nave been kilied anhaaliy' ana between
2t,UOo and 70 OOO injured Ol these casualties
80 per cent Were Directly attrlbG'aple TO the
two evils TINS law was designed TO correct
me slaughler "ouid continue as lChG as the
present condltlons renamed. he thought
something shou!d De zone with Foads Which,
oelnS ap,e al ieass 20 coHpiy PE1tialty, maG
otbnr, boatadIv to the intimation of waga
reduction thrown out Inv MIR C,owen
"T ereal, in mo defiant snirit " said he
"hut I want to saw that when the question
NJ a reduction of wages Is nT,esnIted m us
wa will moot II II tho alternative of re1uc-
ING wages or the manning and death of its
n-on,bers ware nresanted t9 fbe organiyations
which renresert 7 do NOT Hesitate n saw
tbat tbnv would nrefer to 90 ont and eouin
the roaGs themeeIves
ro,J- boJ dnatb and 1;,obiIi+,