Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-30
STATE HOUSE MATTERS.
An Article Relating 10 Automatic ceupIsrs on
Railroad Cars.

Labor Commissioner Matthews re.
| Gently received letter from the secre.
tary Of the Interstate Commerce com.
mission, at Washington a circular ir
| regard to the petitions of those who
| ask for an extension Of time, in which
to comply with the law passed by the
United States Senate, and House OF
Representatives, and approved March
2, 1893, entitled an act to promote the
safety of employees and travellers upon
railroads, by compelling common car
riers. engaged in Interstate commerce
| to equip their cars with automatic
couplers, and continuous brakes. and
their locomotives with driving wheel
brakes, and for other purposes. The
law states that after January /, 1898
it shall be unlawful to be without the
above mentioned equipments.
At a session of the interstate COM
merce commission, held at it's Office in
Washington, D. c., on the Sth day of
October, 1897, the following action was
taken upon the matter:
Whereas the Chicago & Alton Railroad
Company, and certain other railroad
companies have filed petitions asking for
an extension of the time within which
their cars are required to be equipped
with automatic couplerS and power or
train brakes under sections two and three
Of nf VI <,tA tt,A
ployes and travellers upon railroads by
compelling common carriers engaged in
interstate commerce to equip their cars
with automatic couplers and continuous
brakes and their locomotives with driving
wheel brakes. and or other purposes. y
approved March q 1898, agreeably to sec
ton seven of said act; and
Whereas other petitions of similar i'm
port. asking a similar extension, will
probably be filed;
Now. therefore, it is ordered
l. That all such petitions, which are
filed on or before November 15 1897. shall
stand for hearing at the office of the
commission in Washington, D. c., on
Wednesday, December l. 1897, at 10 o'clock
in the forenoon at which time and place
all persons interested either for or in OPP
position to extending the time as prayed
for in said petitions will be heard; and at
such hearing any person interested may
appear either in person or by counsel and
may file any affidavit, statement or argu-
ment bearing upon that question.
2. That every petitioner shall file with
the commission on or before November
Goth a statement under oath of the follow
ing facts: (a) the total number of freight
cars owned: CD the total number of
freight cars which will be equipped with
automatic couplers December l. 1897: (c)
the total number of freight cars which
will be equipped with train or power
brakes December l, 1897; Cd the number
of freight cars which have been equipped
with automatic couplers each calendar
of freight cars which have been equipped
with train or power brakes each calendar
year since March 2. 1898; (f) what new
freight cars have been purchased or con-
structed since March 2, $685. which were
not equipped with automatic couplers
and train or power brakes and when pur-
chased or constructed.
8. Every petitioner shall. on or before
November Goth next. give notice of the
fact that it has made application for an
extension of time beyond January l. 1885,
as aforesaid by publishing in one newspa-
per of general circulation in the largest
town upon its line. and by posting in its
stations at terminal and junction points
a notice in the following form:
SAFETY APPLIANCES.
Notice is hereby given that the
- Rail Company has applied to the
Interstate Commerce Commission for an
extension of time beyond January i. 1898.
within which they are required to equip
their freight cars with automatic couplers
and power of train brakes under Sec
lions two and three of an act approved
March 2. 1893, relating to the equipment
of cars used in interstate commerce with
such safety appliances. and that hear
ing upon said application will be had at
the office of the commission in Washing
ton,'D. c.. on December 1. 1897, at 10
o'clock in the forenoon.
AT that hearing all persons interested
for or against the granting of the relief
prayed for will be heard either in person
or by attorney. and they may file with
the commission affidavits, statements or
arguments for or in opposition to said
petition on or before such date.
by order of the commission:
EDW. A. MOSELEY.
Secretary
Each petitioner shall on or before the
date of hearing file with the commission
an affidavit stating that said notice has
been posted as herein required and giving
the name and place of publication of the
newspaper in which the same has been
published. and shall make such further
proof of the giving of said notice as may
be subsequently required and no petition
will be heard unless notice has been CIV
en- in accordance with this order.
BY the commission:
EDW A. MOSELEY, Secretary.
Col Harrington returned, Friday