The times., 1899-10-22

Z
The session Of the Industrial Commission
held yesterday concluded the hearings
which arc 30 be held ia this city for some
time No witnesses viii appear this week.
TWO very interesting witnesses were heard
yesterday. President John X. Cowen Of
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company.
and President Stuyvesant Fish. OF the hi
nois Central Railroad Company. Mr.. COW
"a was heard in the morning and Mr. Fish
~ the afternoon.
Mr. Cowen has been a railroad man for
twenty-seveu years. and has held his pres
ent position al The head OF the Baltimore
aad Ohio road for nearly four years He
stated that 5,000 men were employed on
The Baltimore and Ohio road, that twelve
hours was a days work for traiumen, and
eight and nine hours for clerks and me
CEanics. relief department for the ben
eft Of the employees had been established
by the company. IL is supported by con
trioutions from the men and also by the
company
in case OF accident or sickness an
emPloye is entitled to the services OF a
physician and money 10 live upon. IN case
OF death the family OF the employe receives
death benefit
Every person who enters the service o.
the company is required to sign a contract
agreeing TO contribute TO the fund. This
contrast does not bind the empIoye to
refrain from suit in case OF injury but if
he decides 10 sue ana gains his point he
is not allowed to benefit from the fund
Mr. Cowcn did not believe that the ac-
tlon OF the company in compelling its men
10 sign the contract was violation Of the
act OF June T. 1888, which makes it illegal
for companies to compel their employees
10 subscribe 10 any organization fOstered
by company. He admitted that as far
as the letter of the law is concerned. the
practice Of The company is a violation. but
III what be Interpreted 10 be its intended
meaning, the company has the right to
contract with its employees in the manner
mentioned.
Fund Proven Benefit
The fund has proven OF great benefit, SO
Mr.. Cowen thought, TO the men and has met
with their general approval.
il reply 10 the claims made the chiefs
Of the various railway brOtherhoOds, who
have appeared before the Commission, 10
The effect that The relief associations Of the
railroad companies are formed with the
idea Of dividing the allegiance Of the men in
time OF trouble between the company and
the bTotherboods, HT. Cowen stated that
the men en- his own read apparently do not
believe this, and have made no complaint
10 the general officers.
From the relief fund money is loaned 70
the contributors who desire 10 borrow
money for the purpose Of purchasing
homes. OF who desire to pay of mortgage
O. property.
In speaking OF ticket brokerage. the
witness believed that ii results in a great
many evils but that il does not in large
measure restrict the receipts Of the com
Vauy. He thought that ticket brokerage
should be stopped, the sale Of all tickets
placed in The hands OF agents Of the com
pa1y, and the right Of redemption grant
I'd The public.
Mr. Cowea stated that the Baltimore and
Ohio Company issues passes. He believed
that the practice is extensively abused.
Passes are issued TO influence trade, but
such practice is growing less. il is Gus
rOuarg 70 grant passes 10 prosecuting at
tCrneys Of the counties through which the
lines cf the company pass. such officials
are frequently called upon TO prosecute
offences committed against the railroad
and the company believes that il Is 10
more than fair that they should be granted
free transportation. especially in cases
where they must travel in order 10 prose
cute the case
Legislators Get Passes
Passes are also granted to members Of
Congress and OF State Legislatures who
live along the lines Of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad. This, so the witness claim
ed is done as q matter OF courtesy. The
practice has grown until it cannot now be
abandoned. TIE witness did not believe
z State CT National law prohibiting free
transportation could be made effective
Mould ra Glad q cna the q establishment
OF the pass system. II has come to he a
fixed condition. and Mr. C0Wen believed
that IT would be wise and effectual 10 leg
islate against the custom 0f the day.
A law recently passed in New York
aimed TO abolish free transportation so
the witness stated, has resulted in a growth
OF the evil. Nr Cowen admitted that dis
criminarIons against individuals and towns
are practiced. Il is done variously by Civ
ing rebates and granting concessions. He
thought such practices an evil, which
harms the public the shipper, and the rail-
road. He laid the responsibility az the
door Of the fifth section OF the Interstate
Commerce law. which prohibits the divis=
iCC Cf profits On competition traffic Had
not the Supreme Court decided that such
division is illegal there was no doubt IL
The witness miEd that a system Of rates,
traffic and pooling arrangements would
have been evolved which would no longer
make lt necessary TO discriminate in order
10 secure business.
Nr. Cowen believed that railroad CON-
pau.es should be given the right 70 make
traffic and rate agreements with one auoth-
G.
Sruyvesant Fish. President Of the Hi
uOis Central Railroad. appeared upon the
stand during the afternoon session.
President FIsb'S Opinion.
Er. Fish testified particularly TO the
railway situation OF the middle West. He
said that conditions there were somewhat
different than In other sections OF the coun-
Try. The country was nearly level. and the
construction and operation Of roads were
less than in the East and farther West
II this connection be said that The oBera--
ing expenses and taxes 0f the Illinois Cen
traI were something like 90 per cent OF
its gross receipts He thought thar the tav
OF per cent Oh gross receipts which was
collected lv The State OF Illinois was too
high He had 10 objection 10 this method
o. collecting the tax. saying THAI 1t was
about the only fair method Of arriving al
q just basis. It was based on the income
Of The road. and was in a measure similar
20 an income tax
D. speaking o. the capitalization Of rail
roads ia this country. Mr. Fish said that
The statement that The railways Of the
United States are overcapitaIized has beer
60 often reiterated as 10 he CufrE vruer-