Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-10-22

SUNDAY LAWS REGULATING
RAILROADS ARE NOT ENFORC-
ED AND ARE DEEMED USELESS.
THE PASS SYSTEM NOT POPU-
LAR WITH THE RAILROADS.
AN EFFORT TO DO AWAY WITH
REBATES.
WASHINGTON, D. c., October 21.-
President John K. Cowen, of the B. &
0. railway, was before the Industrial
Commission to-day. In the course OF
his testimony he expressed himself as
opposed to State laws restricting the
running of railway trains on Sunday.
Il don't think Sunday laws amount
to anything or benefit anybody" he
said.
He said that the tendency Of railroad
companies was towards curtailing the
Sunday business as much as possible,
but there was some business that could
not be stopped, such, for instance, as
through traffic. He said that his road
traversed some States having laws pro-
hibiting Sunday traffic. but that there
had been no prosecutions for violation
of the law and no cessation Of business
on account of it.
Mr.. Cowen said there were $4,000 en-
ployes on the B. e o. proper, and that
since the establishment Of a relief fund,
to which both the company and the EN-,
ployes contributed, for the benefit OF
injured men, there had been compare
lively few suits for damages in case OF
accident Mr. Cowen said that the road
also maintained savings fund which
was very popular with the employees.
He said he did not believe the arbitra.
ton 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 It's employees.
Referring to the pass system, MIR.
Cowen said that 1t was greatly abused
and that the railroads would like to get
rid of it, but that would be difficult.
Public officials were the most frequent
benefciaries under the system, and they
were given passes as a matter Of cour-
tesy and not as a bribe. Members Of
Congress generally Travelled on passes,
and prosecuting officers in the various
counties along railroad lines generally
received free transportation. While he
would like to see the pass system sup
planted by pay business, the change
would not result in lowering rates.
Further he could not believe that the
discontinuance Of giving passes would
be possible in view OF the present state
of public opinion, and he would not ad-
wise useless laws.
81 do not believe that a law on the
subject would be effective he sale,
"and therefore consider it unnecessary
to burden the statutes with it."
He had been told by a New York
railroad man that the prohibitive law
of that State had increased rather than
diminished the number of passes used.
He advocated the authorization OF
pooling contract as the best means OF
preventing determinations on the part
of the railroads. He would be willing
to vest the Interstate commerce COM
mission with power in litigated case
to say whether a rate was reasonable
or not giving appeal to the State, but
he did not believe that railroad men
generally WOulQ D6 Willie " ludhC
this concession. They were generally
reluctant to grant any further powers
over their business. He said there was
less discrimination than formerly.
Speaking Of the articles on which re-
bates were given year ago, he said
that all the products Of the packing
houses and of iron and steel manufac-
tories were generally included in the
list. No rebates were given these ar
ticles now, but on the contrary the rail-
way companies were trying and ex-
pected to be able to effect an increase
In the price of transportation of iron
and steel products. Mr.. Cowen said
that the average freight earnings OF the
Baltimore & Ohio last year amounted
to only 9-10 mills per ton per mile,
and that to reduce it more would soon
bring it to the vanishing point. he
thought the government ownership OF
railroad would be sublime folly.
A Bargain.
~. H. y,H srn-