The Dickinson press., 1906-12-22
PHELAN's TALK
Before Commissioners
Creates Sensation. Hill
Forces Angry.

VII uCSudy J. L. Incldu, tHC LINK
inson cattle grower, testified before the
interstate commerce commission in
Minneapolis and told some PLAIN facts
about car shortage matter. He told
Attorney Bum and other big guns OF the
railroads that they needed more live
men among their subordinates.
The following from the St. Paul Dis
patch is what Mr.. Phelan said in part:
Referring to the Hill roads. the Great
Northern and the Northern Pacific, he
declared that they were injured in their
full efficiency by mismanagement and
decentralization.
He expressed his views with a plain
ness and pith that created a sensation
OF such a kind as may be permitted be-
tore a body so august and dignifed.
Mr.. Phelan was not abashed either by
the commission or by the railway at
torneys nor by any other "power." He
spoke right out and the opinion he held
was that a little common sense in prac-
tical railroading would avail much to
proven, shortages and other trying Stu
ations.
This Phelan was a character, as he
proved before he left the witness stand.
He charged headlong on the railroads
without the slightest fear OF the conse-
quences-that is, on the Hill roads, the
Great Northern and the Northern Pa
ci6c.
Attorney Marble, tor the commission,
questioned him from an article written
by Phelan for the Fargo Forum, and
the statement drawn from that article
furnished him Il further text before the
commission.
SO Phelan made his charge, which
was in a way, something like the ride Of
Sheridan to save the day.
Almost at the outset he indicated his
opinion OF the Great Northern road by
saving that he would drive I4o miles to
the Northern Pacific rather than 30
miles to get the Great Northern as his
shipping point.
What was the trouble with %railroading,
the shortage of cars, the scarcity of coal,
and to this Phelan growled out that it
was general decentralization.
At this the honorable commission be-
gan to notice Phelan, and the many
railroad men in the o began to grin.
Too many dead men, not enough live
men-and poor housekeeping, declared
Phelan.
When a railroad runs its equipmen,
INV a SANoP AIOI1lL1S SkOIC ~ Cal I "
the best work. said Phelan.
These utterances were so remarkable
that by this time every ear was erect
whether 10 be pleased or displeased.
Mr.. Bum, of the Northern Pacific
turned a little redder and regarded
Phelan with an icy eye.
MIR. Phelan did not seem to care.
ora r Gonna ~ bic ;looc rs~lyc<
from a long monologue, interrupted
here and there by Attorney Marble
reading from a Fargo paper; (the article
railroad shipments.)
The Northern Pacific has followed
the bad lead of the Great Northern
r read.
1t has practically abandoned its dis
such places, for. example, as Fargo
Such shops at such points are abso
ment may be kept at its highest stage Q
efficiency.
1t is all very we'll to say that cars an,
engines out Of order shall 60 to Brai
: nerd, but the theory is wrong. Engine:
All SAdAAPiCS OuSut " OS put III PSIiSC
!, order at the end Of their runs in shop
at the district or divisional terminals.
He cited an instance of what b
meant by poor housekeeping.
! The round house at Dickinson wa
q filled with steam escaping from tn
engines when they blew of. Pipes t
convey away this steam had been brok
en- or disused. That was s%lovenly.
a. Tho ~o,L ~>aIol -o.o <Lo~ o~,<l:o
else some n to speak OUT" live mer
not dead ones. Train men ought to 6
oft on the runs rested trains ought to 6
out in perfect order, SO that they ma
do the work efficiently. This was nc
the fact.
There was a foolish economy in littl
, things, such as material for rerairs an
. supplies. Somebody in the general off
ces was trying to make out a nice tabl
and get himself patted on the back, an
SO it had happened that engines had n
headlights because there was no kers
t sene on hand, and small essential thing
for repairs were wanting. Men got j
their holes and went to sleep.
= The nice table in the general ofic'
o Phelan says, is not the most importar
= thing.
Mi. NH IdPS Tue lHen u iAdhe d SuOV
ing, and these men think they are earl
{ ing a salary by making the showing.
If MI. Hill paid as much attention I
e his railroading as he does to the hogs o
his model farm there would not be an
car shortage.
Everything is side-tracked for "tor
nage;;" thirty or forty hours cuts no ic'
makes no difference, if the tonnage REL
ord is all right.
This tonnage record, said Phela'
warming up, is as false as h-l, an
ought to be punished just as count
feiting is punished.
Why fit out an engine with tonnage
when the engine is in poor order? l.
J the engine pull all it can.
There ought to be a better spir
e among men, the spirit Of push, the spir
q to have things done.
e There are too many excuses, t
many tables to compare with 9TH
tables. There are too many collision
rear end and front end; too much biz,
1t dering.
He recalled an instance where mt
had been on duty tor ID hours.
To~micoionor aoo uieho1 IN knou