The times., 1897-12-02
RAILROADS ASK MORE TIME
Safety Appliance Law Shonld Not
New Be Enforced.
FIVE YEARS MORE WANTED
Reasons Advanced by Representa-
tives of the Corporations-Pre Presi-
dent Gompers ana Other Lahor
Leaders Plead for Prompt Ei.-
forcement of the Law.

The Representatives of many OF the inn
portaut railroads appeared before the
Interstate Commerce Cominis sion, pc
tioniug for an extension of time in which
to comply within act OF 1898, requiring
The railway comranies to equip tkeir en-
gines ana cars with ,afety couplers, hand
rails and air brakes. The time asked for by
he railroads is five years. This he
representatives OF the railway employees
oppose, on the ground that the e.ival OF
business does no5i warrant sucna long delay.
Tire railway employees are represented
by p MBA Ith0f Of the brotherhood OF Lo-
conotlve Engineers; +. =. Sargent, chief
OF the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen:
p H. Morrissey, chief of the Brotherhood
of Railway Trainmen; +. E. Clark, chief
OF the Order Of Railway Conductors, md
W. " Powell, chief of the order OF -releg-
rapheIs.
Tne railroads were represented as follows;
j. K. Cowcn, Baltimore and Ohio; samuel
Koar, Boston ana Albany, Mr.. Lo0mis,
New York Central; ex-senator Butler OF
South Carolina the Mobile and y hio,
Nj. Il, a. Rhodes, q. b. II q, and others
The morning ses sion was consumed mainly
In hearing thp petitions OF the several
railroads and the leHsonS why an eXten-
sion of time is asked.
Al the afternoon session a Petition was
present ed fron railway employees in rdvGr
OF the prompt equipment Gf tie railroads
according 10 law. It was stated that
Cardinal Gibbons ana other diyines were
OH this paper.
Mr butler, attorney for the Roston ana
Manchester ana Maine Central RAN way
continued the argument. lie contend ed
that fully sc per cent 81 tie freight cars
Of New England were Foreign ana SO cr
cent local. and that it would be IN in
/ Justice TO require al equal cnlerceueut
of the Law under these circumstances.
In rep.y 10 question by MI. PrGuty. of
| the commission. Nr. Butler admitted that
his roads had been declaring 4 Fer cent
dividend.
President Ciompers, Of the Federation Of
Labor. entered his protest against delay,
citing as d reason Tor prompt equipment
| the Hany victims Of the rairvadS 10y
| death anG il iuneS. He declared that rail
| roads which could declare dividends should
| be required to obey the law in the inter
| est OF humanity. There might be some ex
| cuSe for railroads struggling for exist
| ence, but none for the Fich y corporations
Mr.. Gompe-s made very strong appeal
! OF those made widows ana orphans by
inefficient railroadinG.-and urged tire com
| mission u deal WITH the case as. the law
required, but with Justice 10 all concerned.
/ The next argument was made by ex-Sen-
ator Butler, OF South Carolina, represent
| ing the Mobile and Ohio Railroad.
| Col. Martin +. Clardy. representing West
| err railroads, made long ar gument against
| the roads heng forced to act within two
| years. He favored a live years exten-
sion, as being equitable TO all concerned.
I Col. RQYmoHs representing theGanaiiln
Pacific, stated .tAat over so per cent OF
its cars we're equipped, according 20
law, and that the remainder would be
equipped Within five years.
Conmisaioner Knapp asked Hon John K
Cowen if anextension were granted, wouId
not the condition be just the same. at the
expiration of the tune, as it is now.
Col. CowsH replied that the ma ority Of
the raii oS,ds would have complied, and
that bat asfew swpuld remain to be dealt
with.
Col. Coweu in closing his remarks. said
that the questions raised about deaths and
| accidents were Het really to the point. 1t
was simplyra matter OF business anu should
| be so considerably lie expressed the opin-
ION that tis. employees OF railroads We're not
| in favor OF hampering the corporations By
| enforcing this law, as it would Result %
| their disadvantage by decreasing their
| chances uf employment. lie did not think
that tie labcr leaders had expressed by
! authority the desires OF employees.
The latter part Of this speech was re-
| Piled 10 warmly by Mr.. Morrissey, who
stated that ne had fun authority TO spea
and act for laboring men, and that he
| had stated their views fully.
The proceedings VIII be resumed this
! morning.