Omaha daily bee., 1897-12-02

n
safety appliances
Ex-Congresaum Harrison Of Alabama
made the point the yellow fever in the south
had been severe strain on southern roads.
Tho several fqads which had fully COM
pied, those which lad between 75 and 100
per cent OF their cars equipped, AMI those
with between 40 and IS per cent, were called,
ana the representatives Of each gave an e5ti-
mate OF time in which the work OF complying
with the law could be completed.
After the recess Julius Rosendale Of Phila-
delphia In behalf OF himself and eminen.
dlVnes whom he said he represented, AM
among whom he mentioned Cardinal Glib
bons, entered protest against granting any
extension Of time
Samuel Gompets, president OF the Ameri-
can fedoratton Of Labo- Joined In Mr.. Nor
r'esey's protest against any undue extension
Of the time for the compliance with the law.
The lives and limbs Of the railroad en-
ployes which were in PERIL he said, cried as
loud and appealed as the dividends of the
roads. On one point Mr.. Gompers was very
emphatic. He thought no extension should
rc granted to any road that mad paid divi-
denls since the law vas passed
COULD NOT AFFORD IT.
Mr. Clark, representing the Chicago-Great
Western said his company could not aford,
and had not the facilities to equip the un-
equipped cars with the couplors within one
year. There were about 3 900 Of these
What were the earnings of Your road
last year?" asked Commissioner Prouty.
Over S4,OOO,OOO."
why could not the road apply 100000
lerso"
1T would not be economical" replied Mr..
Clark
ExCongressman CLARK of Missouri. repre-
senting the Iron Mountain argued that the
commission was charged with the execution
| OF the law and had plen1ry powers. The
commission. he declared, had power to cx-
tend tho time foyfeitng condition.
The railroads whose equipment was below
90 per cent were called. and the counsel OF
particular roads In many cases explained the
reasons why more progress had not been
made.
Commissioner Knapp asked If the COM
mission granted an extension for one year
with the understanding that one-fifth of the
cars should be equipped in that period, and
there should be default, whether there would
not then be the same practical difficulty to
face as now.
| Mr.. Cowen replied in the affirmative and
said the commission must allow sufficient
| time. To grant two years extension, for in
stance. he said, with the absolute certainty
| that the roads could not comply would be a
continuous invitation to the roads to default.
COW7EN ATTACKS MORRISSEY.
| The hearing today closed with a somewhat
Sensational exchange between Mr.. Cowen and
Mr.. Mcrrissey. Mr. Cowen in closing in
| dignantly repudated the idea that Mr.
Gompers or Mr.. Morrisssy in any way repre-
| sented the employees of the Baltimore e. Ohio
| road. Those employees, he declared, had not
| been consulted. and he resented the quiet
| assumption of the labor leaders that they
| represented the workers on his road. He
warned the commission against the humanl-
| tartan views presented by the men. The
| facts in the case, he said, had not been es-
| tablished. The statistics on his road showed
that the couplers killed more and manned
| less than the old system. In a business
| matter, he said with some temper, it was al
| ways dangerous to listen to alleged humani.
| tartan considerations. He used no yelled
| irony in his references to Mr.. Morrissey S
assumption of authority.
| The latter jumped to his feet when Mr..
| C0wen sat down. He had tried. he said, to
| occupy a digntfed attitude throughout the
hearing. He did not desire to give offense.
He had maintained silence when the state
| ments Of the representatives of the roads
were being presented, but he deemed it his
duty to reply to the insinuation Of Mr.. Cowen
| that he did not represent the railway train
men He refused to be dlscredted and he
| denied that he had assumed authority not
vested in him. Elghty-ve per cent of the
! employees of the Baltimore g. Ohio road, he
said. were members of the Brotherhood OF
| Railway Trainmen, and at the Toronto con-
ventiOn last year he had unanimously been
empowered to state the position OF its mem
bers to the Interstate Commerce commission.
| Every division of the Baltimore & Ohio road
| had been represented at the convention. Upon
| that authority he said, he denied Mr.. Cow
ems statement.
II said the question of a years extension
had never been presented to the employees of
| the Baltimore & Ohio" interrupted Mr..
| Cowen, land I repeat it."
| The Toronto convention" retCrted Mr..
Morrissey, voted against any entenson." He
then explained further that he had appealed
| to the convention not to tie his hands, but
| to leave him free to use his judgment and
that discretion had been accorded him.
Soon afterward the hearing was adjourned
until tomorrow.