The Portland daily press., 1897-12-02
RAILROADS NOT READY.
More Time Asked For to Equip
Freight Cars,
WITH AUTOMATIC COUPLERS AND
AIR BRAKES.
Many Roads Claim They Cannot Afford
to Make the Changes-Labor Organi-
Extension.

to Make the Changes-Labor organi-
cations Earnestly Protest Against Any
Extension.
Washington, December 1.-THE inter-
state commerce commission today opened
the hearing of the railroads which have
petitioned for an extension of the time in
which they may comply with the act OF
1893, requiring them to equip their cars
and engines with automatic couplers,
hand rails and air brakes. The represen-
tative attorneys of several hundred rail
roads, and also the leading labor organi-
cations are crowdlng the chamber in
which the commission meets.
Great interest was manifested. John
Cowen, one Of the receivers of the Balti-
more and Ohio, presented the general SUD-
Ject to the commission. Previous to his
general presentation. Mr.. Morrison of the
commission, called for the oral argument
of the roads which We're completely
equipped under the law, but which had
petitioned the commission for an extern
sion of the time as applied to the cases OF
other roads, which had not complied.
Samuel Hoar, representing the Boston
and Albany railroad, made a brief argu.
ment on this point to show the utter
paralysis of traffic which must follow If
roads which had compiled with the law
were compelled to cease hauling un-
equipped cars.
Mr.. Cowen presented at s0me length
the whole question. representing in this
issue not the Baltimore and Ohio, but the
Lake shore road. The Lake shore he said,
was one OF the most prosperous roads in
the country and it had been able to con--
ply fully with the law, but it was here
uniting with the other roads in asking
for an extension. Those roads which had
equipped their cars could not haul un-
equipped cars without technically violat.
ing the law.
Mr.. CoWen, said he was chairman of
the committee at this hearing which
represented about 600, eco of the 993, ,0u0
freight cars engaged in interstate COM
nerce. The question of the passengers
cars he said could be dismissed as they
We're practically all equipped.
OF The freight cars of The country 441-2
per cent had the additional air brake at.
tachment He agreed that this was suffi-
clent evidence that the roads had made an
honest effort to comply with the law
He urged that the extension be for five
years with provisions for an equipment
of one-fifth Of the cars each year. II there
.,tAs 4.2eA. DEFAULT, cars n0t .-apEed cotst. i
be withdrawn from interstate commerce
without endangering the transportation
facilities of the eounry.
He further said that it would cost from
$40, ,000,O00 to $50. ZOO, 900 for the railroads
to comply with the law. This money
must be earned. If the commission de-
clined an extension the roads would be
unable to equip their cars out of their
own resources. The money must come
out of the wages of the employees if the
roads were to be driven beyond their
financial ability.
Mr.. Cowen in reply to Commissioner
Prouty said that the cost of the couplers
for new cars was from Si8 to $50 and for
old cars probably double that amount.
The percentage of equipped cars for the
control of trains ranged according to esti-
mates given by experts present from
twenty to sixty per cent.
& 4. IL. Morrissey, repre- senting the
brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, the
Railroad Conductors association, the
Locomotive Engineers, the Brotherho cd
of Locomotive Firemen and the Associa-
tion of Railroad Telegraph Operators fol-
lowed Mr.. Cowon with a forcible presen-
tation of the attitude of the railroad en-
ployes toward the solicited extension. He
agreed with MIR. Cowen that in large
1neasnre this was a great commercial
question, but he said it was also . hu-
name question. This law, the main feat
ures of which were to become operative
on the first day of the new year, he said
expressed the heart and conscience OF the
American people as represented by their
chosen servants in Congress. The associa
tions for which he appeared were unit
In protesting against any such unreason-
able extension as has been proposed. Five
years would render the purpose of the law
nugatory. The past live years had been
especially hazardous to railroad employees
owing to the lack of uniformity in Car
equipment. During the past five years
two thousand railroad men had Leen
killed annually and one thousand to two
thousand injured. OF these casualties 60
per cent were directly attributed to the
two evils this law was designed to cor
rect. The slaughter would continue as
long rs the present condition remained.
He did not believe because certain rail
roads We're delinquent that those which
had complied with the laws should be 4
punished. But he did think something
should be done with the roads which had
utterly disregarded the law. He replied
heatedly to the intimation of wage reduc
ton thrown out by Mr.. Cowen.
i speak In no defiant spirit" ne said,
but l want to say that when The question
OF reduction Of wages is presented to
US we will meet it. Ii the alternative OF
reducing wages or the manning and death
of their members were presented to the
organizations which l represent they
would prefer to go out and equip the
roads themselves
The railroad men were willing to CON
cede something. The railroad employees
agreed that the maximum extension must
not exceed year. Mr.. Morrissey chal-
lenged the statements made as to the
cost Of equipping cars. lie gave $l4 as
the cost and was of the opinion that 20
per cent of the cars equipped with tl%
driving brakes could control trains exc RI
in mountain regions. Ex-senator Butter
of South Carolina, on behalf OF the MO.
bile and Ohio railroad, MR. Loo1nis OF
the New York Central, wi Ase road has
q. A. Rhodes of the q. b. aud
O., and Congressman Harrison of Ma
bama argued in favor of an extension.
Mr.. julius Mosendale of Philadelphia
on behalf of himself and many eminent
diyines whom he said he represented and
among whom ne mentioned Cardial Glib
bons, entered 3 protest against granting
any extension of time.
Counsel who announced the ability OF
their own roads to comply with the law,