The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-28
ARE HEARD
Railroad Attorneys Before
HOurS-Of-Seryice COnfereeS.
mOsELEY FIGHTS SENATE BILL
Secretary of interstate Commerce
Commission Opposes La Toilette
duced BY Esch, which President
Roosevelt Threatens with Veto.

The conferees on the hours-of-service
bill did the extraordinary thing of giving
q hearing during the conference yester-
day TO attorneys for the railroads that
are opposing the biIl This was done az
the request of representatives Of the
Southern Railway.
II rarely occurs that conference com
mittees allow hearings, as It is considered
that when measure reaches the con-
ference stage debate has been exhausted
and the purpose Of the conference is only
20 reconcile differences between the two
Houses and bring forth legislation by way
of compromise where otherwise there
would be entire failure TO legislate.
There We're present at the hearing the
.cOnferees for the Senate. NIessTs. PenTose.
Flint, and Daniel, the cOnferees for the
House. Messrs. Hepburn, Sherman. and
Davey, ex-senator Charles J. Faulkner
as attorney for several railroads; F. c.
Price and Charles Baldwin. for the Chi
cago. Burlington and Quincy; S. c. Neale
and J. ~ Stuart, for the Pennsylvania.
T. W. Hackett for the Southern; Edward
A. Moseley. secretary Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission; Hugh Fuller.
representing the railway wOrkmens or
CARNATIONS. and Representatives CARRIER.
of Ohio, and Murphy, of Missouri.
The greater part OF the time of the
hearing was taken up by the railroad at
toneys. Senator Faulkner opposed the
three-year period for the statute Of
limitations. and urged that it be changed
TO one year. Mr. Baldwin fled a
pamphlet argument against the whole
measure The argument was not signed,
but he admitted that ne prepared it. Mr.
Fuller was given five minutes 20 present
the railway Workingmen's side OF the
case, but finally was permitted TO speak
longer. as ne said he could not state his
case in five minutes. In view of the fact
that the Baldwin pamphlet for the rail-
roads had been put in the mail boxes OF
all Senators and members or the House
IN the morning. Mr.. Fuller was allowed TO
file a written argument for the working
men.
The principal matter Of objection 10 the
railroad attorneys was the amendment
including telegraphers under the terms
OF the BILL Mr.. Hepburn opposed this
amendment.
MOseiey Produces Surprise.
The startling feature of the hearing
was the fact that Secretary MoseEey, Of
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
was present 10 oppose the bill lie had
framed the Esch bill originally presented
In the House, and urged that il should be
passed and not the La Toilette bill. which
passed the Senate.
Whom do you represent here?' asked
Representative Murphy,
Il can't tell YOU said Mr.. Moseley.
My name is Edward Augustus MoseIey,
and I represent him in part
The circumstance that an official of the
Interstate Commerce Commission had
come TO oppose the bill at the eleventh
hour was a great surprise 10 the friends
Of the measure, and they were at "a loss
10 understand what had prompted such
an unusual proceeding. as the commits
sion has all along favored the La Fol-
lette bill Mr.. Moseley. TO questions By
those present, said that he couldn't ex-
plain why he was there. But he said,
Il had TO do it,"
Mr. Murphy. in reply to Mr. Moseley.
read the recommendation Of the commits
sion in favor of the provisions of the
Senate bill
II was evident from the discussion that
the 'conferees were in favor Of striking
of the amendment in regard 10 telegraph
operators. and there is reason to expect
that the bill will in other respects be re
stored 10 its mutiiated condition on
emerging from the House Committee on
Commerce condition that led President
Roosevelt to suggest to members Of the
House that he should be forced 10 veto
the bill if passed without some approach
10 the terms of the Senate bill. The
House leaders finally brought I'm rule
putting the measure In an acceptable
shape, and passed it,
Veto 10 BE Invited.
The conferees held an executive session
after she hearing and will present their
report to their respective Houses late to-
day It is expected they will phrase the
bill so as to meet the wishes Of the rail-
roads and render It of little value in Civ
ing railway employees hours Of rest and
rendering conditions of travel in some de-
gree safer to the public. BY some it is
freely predicted that at the behest of the
railroads the bill will be made obnoxious
10 the President so that he Will veto it
in the last hours Of the session, when It is
too late to accomplish any legislation
whatever in the direction proposed.