The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-07
SAFETY FOR RAILROAD MEN
RAILROADS ASK FuRTHER TIME
TO PUT IN APPLIANCES.
Lengthy Argument Made By Repre-
sentstives Of the Railroads and
the Trainmcn-Roads wall Prob
ably Get an Extension Of Time.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The interstate
commerce commission gave hearing to
the representatives OF several companies
asking for further extension OF the time
allowed the railroads to equip their lines
with safety appliances. Two years ago the
commission granted an extension until
January ], 1900. The further extension ask
ed for at the present time IL one year.
The representatives Of various labor or
ganizations vera also present to offer their
side Of the case.
Representatives Of about 100 roads were
in attendance.
John X. Cowan. president OF the Balti-
more a Ohio. representing ms chairman
lightweight other roads. having 1000 miles
of lines. made the opening argument. He
said that June /, 1899. 21i,26s freight cars
out OF 2,226.0o0 engaged In interstate COM
merce were not equipped with safety appii-
ances. Since that time the number had
been reduced to between 10000 and 175000.
The argument OF the railroads asking for
an extension he said, was based upon the
showing made by the roads since the last
application. The showing demonstrated
that the railroads had done as well an
could be expected and would ask no fur
Their extension. .asi, tst
Wayne Macveagh, representing the Penn
sylvania and affiliated lines, Joined In ask
Ing for the extension. They had equipped
$4,000 out Of 10000.
President Knapp, Of the commission. stat
ed for the benefit OF those present that OF
the roads petition.ng for an extension over
% per cent. were fully equipped. He said
there was some Misrepresentation as to the
meaning OF the law, which provided that
not all the roads should equip their cars.
but that after certain date no unequipped
cars should participate In interstate COM
merce. Fully equipped roads could not.
therefore. haul unequipped cars after the
expiration Of the limit.
At this juncture President Knapp an
nounced that the president had sent WORD
that he would be glad to receive the rep
resentatives Of the railroads and labor or
CARNATIONS present at the White House
at / o'clock.
Tho invitation was accepted
The committee recessed until o'clock.
After the recess Mr.. Macveagh again
addressed the committee. dwelling upon
tho enormous progress already made by
the railroads. which, he satd, had spent
500. 600 to comply with the law. II the
withdrawal Of 175,0OO cars from Interstate
commerce would infiict serious injury up
on the business interests of the country.
Mr.. Ely. of the motive department of
the Pennsylvania railroad, gave 1t as his
view that Il would be entirely practicable
for one road to equip all the foreign cars
President Knapp at this point stated
that a travelling inspector OF the commits
sion, who had been examining the equip-
almost Ideal state Of affairs so far as
hand holds and standard height OF draw
bars were concerned, but that he had
CARDS some OF the alleged automatic coup
lers. 1t was discreditable, he said. The
appliances for operating the. couplers. es-
found Found out Of order in per cent of the
couplers. The coupiers could not be work.
ed except by. going between the cars. and
were more dangerous than the old links
Mr.. Ramsey, Of the Wabash protested
against the statement that 25 per cent of
i or per cent. would cover the coupiers
ut of order. The secretary Of the COM
mission said that four lodges of the rail-
neers and one Of frenen had petitioned in
favor of extension. and that eleven lodges
Of railway traintnen, ten OF railroad con-
gineers had protested against extension.
Z. E. Clark, president of the Order of
Railway Conductors, said he had no de-
railroads. The employees wanted to be
reasonable. The inherent defect In the
law he said, was that its enforcement
would punish the innocent as well as the
: In 1885, said he, 1859 railroad employees
were killed and 31,76l had been injured.
OF these, over coo had been killed and
over 5000 wounded in coupling cars. II
the law had been obeyed and had accom-
plished It's object. not one of those men
would have been killed or injured. AS
regards the cost Of which the railroads
had complained, he said It was hard to
strike a balance between dollars and cents
and lost lives and injuries. Railroad or
CARNATIONS during the past two weeks had
paid out over 100000 In death and sick
benefits. As men crippled In the service
were debarred from further employment
by railroads, those organizations wanted
Just as few men crippled as possible.
Speaking of the number of couplers m
bad order, to which attention has been
called, he declared that until the law be-
came actually operative 1t would be i'm
possible to compel the railroads to keep
their couplers In good order. He called
which were now completely equipped were
before the commission two years ago con-
tending that t would be absolutely i'm
possible for their roads to equip their cars
In less than five years. He said few pri-
waite car lines Owners of refrigerator cars,
etc) showed a disposition to equip their
cars. He thought sooner or later all roads
would be obliged to equip the foreign cars
on their lines.
While unwilling to take the position
that the law should be made operative De-
cember 81. he said the railroad employees
Two years ago the railroads asked five
years They got two; now they wanted
one. Upon behalf of the employees he
asked that the time should not be extend
ed more than a few months, four to six
months, and that the commission make
II plain. once for all, that II extension is
granted 1t VIII be the last.
1t seems probable as a result OF the
hearing that the commission will grant
the railroads further extension of six
months within which to comply with the
safety appliance act.