Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-10-22
BOTH OPPOSE PASS SYSTEM
B. & o. PRESIDENT DOUBTS IF III
CAN BE ABOLISHED.
Says Anti-Sunday Traffic Laws Arc
Not Enforced-IIIinois Central
President Says River Com
petition Is Not Long
er u Factor.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21-President John
Cowan. of the Baltimore s. Ohio railroad,
Was before the industrial commission to-
day. In the course of his testimony. he
expressed himself opposed to state laws
restricting the running OF railway trains on
Sunday.
y don't think Sunday laws amount to
anything OF benefit anybody" he said.
He said that the tendency OF companies
was toward CuTtailing the Sunday business
as much as possible, but there was some
business that could not bo stopped: such,
for instance, as through traffic. He said
that his road traversed some states having
laws prohibiting Sunday traffic, but that
there had been no prosecutions for viola
tions OF the law, and 10 cessation OF busi-
ness on account OF it
Mr.. Cowan said there were 800 employees
on the Baltimore & Ohio proper. and that,
since the establishment of relief fund,
to which both the company and the en-
ployes contributed for the benefit Of in
jurcd men, there had been comparatively
few suits for damage in case of accident.
Mr.. Cowan said lie did not believe the
arbitration law of the last congress would
have any effect for the reason that no
railroad would allow an outsider to fix the
wage rate of its employees. Referring to
the press system, Mr.. Cowan said that it
was greatly abused and that railroads
would like 10 get rid OF it, but that would
be difficult. While he would like to see
the pass system supplanted by pay busi-
ness, the change would not result in low
erins rates.
Il do not believe that law on the sub
ject would be effective" he said. and,
therefore, consider it unnecessary to burden
the statutes with it,
He advocated the authorization of pool
ing contracts as the best means of pre-
venting determinations on the part of the
railroads He said there was less discrinl-
ination now than formerly. Speaking of
the articles on which rebates were given
year ago. he said that all the products of
the packing houses and Of iron and steel
manufactures were generally included in
the list. No rebates We're given these ar
ticIes now, but on the contrary the rail
road companies, were trying and expected
to be able u effect an increase in the
price of transportation of iron and steel
products.
Mr. COwan said that the average freight
earnings of the Baltimore K Ohio last year
amounted to only ; 9-l0 mills per ton per
mile. and that to reduce II more would soon
bring it to the vanishing point. lie thought
the government ownership of railroads
would be sublime folly"
Mr. Stuyvesant Fish. president of the
Illinois Central Railroad Company. was be-
fore the committee during its afternoon
session. lie made an argument for the
shipment of the products of the Mississippi
valley states intended for export. via New
Orleans. claiming the advantage of Il de-
scendinG grade. With equal tonnage, he
said. freight could be carried more cheaply
from Chicago to New Orleans than from
Chicago to New York. Speaking of the
competition OF river transportation. he said
that railroad rates had become so low in
recent years that it was no longer formd-
able. IN three years. not Il bale of cotton
had been carried into New Orleans by boat.
He presented a table showing that there
were six systems of railroads, representing
over 1900 miles, terminating in New Or
leans.
lie said that the capital stock of the IL
linois Central aid not represent the real
value by $200NC.0J1. and declared that the
railroads generally. instead of being over
capitalized, were really under-capital
The road had never failed TO pay dividends,
but during the dali times succeeding the
panic Of 1893 it had been necessary to re-
duce the force very materially. He thought
it would have been more satisfactory to
reduce wages than TO curtail the force.
but this had been found impractIcable be-
cause OF the danger of u strike
He expressed the opinion that wages
would always be controlled by the law Of
supply and demand. except as It's opera
ton may he influenced by labor trusts
seeking to prevent free men from selling
their only capital IN the best market H
FASTENED TO say. after this remark that.
labor organizations as the brotherhood oS
I-Gf If hn nrfa 1,F