New-York tribune., 1908-01-28
RAILROAD MEN HEARD.
SEEK CHANGES IN Law.
Conferences scith President and In
terstate Commerce Commission.
fFrom The Tribun. Bureau.I


Washington, Jan. 27.-The President held a
conference this afternoon with representatives
OF nine Of the important railroad systems Of
the country, who desire to persuade him to sus-
pend the enforcement Of certain provisions OF
the Interstate Commerce law until the Supreme
Court has finally passed the questions in
volved IN some of them and the railroads have
been able to adjust themselves to the changes
demanded by others The meeting, which lasted
All hour. not conclusive, and the railroad
managers left the White House with the under
standing that they were to have another talk
with the President before the matter was finally
settled. After leaving the White House the
railroad visited the Office of the Interstate
Commerce Commission and took up the subject
with Commissioners Knapp. CockreH and
Prouty. who were the only members of the
board in town.
The chief topics discussed at the White House
conference are said to have been the commod-
ity amendment of the interstate commerce law,
which prohibits railroads from transporting
commodities which they produce after May l.
1908. and that section of the statute which
limits the hours of duty Of train teiegraphers
and other employees engaged in transmitting
train orders. which takes effect after March f.
The subject of traffic agreements or pooling,
which the railroads hold is necessary under GER
tain conditions for the benefit Of the public as
well as for the profitable conduct Of business.
is said not to have been discussed. The exist
ing law makes good as we'll as bad traffic agree
ments unlawful.
The railroad representatives. at the conference
included c. r. Gray, of the st. Louis & San
Francisco; l. G. Rawn, of the Illinois Central
II. L Nudge. of the Rock Island: D. Willard. Of
the Burlington: W. A. Garrett. of the Seaboard
Air Line; c. E Schaf, of the New York Central;
W. A. Gardner, of the Chicago Northwestern;
c. H. Ackert, of the Southern, and e G. Buck
land. of the New York. New Haven Hartford
The Presidents visitors made number of sug
gestions in a tentative way, most of which in
volved delay IN the enforcement Of the various
provisions of the law. The railroad men in the
conference are those who will be held personally
responsible for any violations OF the law, and
they especially anxious to know their
ground before the various provisions Of the
statute become effective. 1t was suggested to
the President that it would be only fair to allow
the roads to continue hauling coal from their
mines until the Supreme Court passes finally on
the commodity clause in the law, and in lieu of
this arrangement of the three months extern
sion granted by the Attorney General in some
cases at least years time should be allowed
the mine owners to dispose of their coal prop
critics. Until the roads obtain adequate
telegraphic help. they told the President, it
vision of the law relating to hours of labor. The
President said he would discuss the subject with
the Interstate Commerce Commissioners and the
General.
Later In the day the Interstate Commerce
Commission made public the following state
ment:
A committee of chief operating officials some
twelve fifteen in number, representing gen.
orally all railroads throughout the United States,
had an interview with the President this after
noon, with the view, is understood, Of in
ducng him to recommend to Congress an
amendment Of the law which takes effect March
next limiting the hours of consecutive duty of
and other similar employees en-
gagged in transmitting train orders. At the sug-
gestion of the President this committee had an
interview this afternoon with the Interstate
Commerce Commission Their presentation Of
the matter was heard by Commissioners Knapp.
Prouty and Cockre1I. the other four members of
the commission being absent official duty.
The amendment desired not submitted in
definite form but involves increasing the
of the commission in respect to ex-
tending the time when the law shall take effece
and granting exemptions from its operation
The commission took no action. but has the
matter under consideration.