Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-12-26

Gov. Conner of Alabama announced re-
Gently that President Emerson and Cen
eral Counsel Alexander Hamilton of the
Atlantic Coast Line had agreed to put
into effect the freight rate named in the
railroad rate bills, and also the pa cent
passenger rate.
Members of the Railroad Conductors
Order and of the Brotherhood of Train
men are working together in formulating
demands which they expect to make, and
a vote ON the proposition to ask an in
crease in wages is now in progress This
movement involves 10000 employees on
sixty-fve different lines east of the Mis-
sissippi. Besides increase in pay, radical
changes in the rules of service are to be
demanded.
Angeles Judge Welborn imposed a fine
of S330,0O0 upon the Atchison, Topeka
and Santa Fee railroad upon it's conviction
last July for granting rebates to the
Grand Canyon Line and Cement Com
pany of Arizona. The judge said this
was an intermediate penalty" as the
maximum fine would have been $1,320,-
900. The company had asserted that
the alleged rebates were paid on account
of damaged goods.
The proposition of the Erie railroad
that both the per diem and piece work
plans be tried for a period and reported
on by a competent committee of machin-
lists has been rejected by the striking
machinists, who have been out six months
to enforce their opposition to the piece
,A1a in, too
says it has been proved already to their
satisfaction that the competent, industri-
Gus man can earn more under the piece
system.
A reduction in force extending through
all departments of the Burlington rail-
road has been ordered, which will amount
to 10000 before the end of December.
At the same time, working hours have
been cut from nine to eight.
The series of locomotive speed tests
conducted by the Pennsylvania Railroad
at Clayton, \. j., ended Wednesday,
when electric engine No. OBS, owned by
the New Haven road, attained speed of
a little over ninety-two miles an hour.
This was, however, still short of the rec
ord of ninety-nine miles made by a steam
locomotive last week.
Judge Sanborn, in the United States
Court of Appeals at st Paul, has given
a decision directly opposed to a recent
decision in tn. United States Court for
the Sixth District. This latter contended
that a railroad becomes subject to fed
eral control only when the lines of the
railroad cross the border of the State.
Judge SapDorn says the power to regu-
late commerce among the States rs para
mount toall the powers of the States. If
the independent and lawful exercise Of
this congressional power and the attempI-
ed exercise by a State of any of its pow
ers inpinge or conflict, the former mus.
prevail and the latter must give way"
Missouri railroads have lost $780,
OOf in the past three months through the
operation of the new two-cent passenger
fire law, according to statements COM
,iled by the officials of the various roads.
With the issuing Of the statement comes
the announcement that the railroads will
contest the further enforcement of the
statute upon the ground that it is con-
fscatory.
The Federal Court of Appeals at st.
Paul has affirmed the judgment of the
Circuit Court of western Missouri for
100000 against the Chicago, Burlington
and Quincy railroad for rebates amount
ing to $146 on shipment Of lard from
Kansas City to St. Louis and the Fast