Evening journal., 1908-09-16
MUST OBEY THE
I6-HOUR LAW
Interstate Commerce Com
mission Severe as to
the New Law
PENNSY AMONG THE NAMED

WASHINGTON, Sept. 16.-The In
terstate Commerce Commission is hav-
ing great difficulty in the enforcement
of the 16-hour law
There have been numerous postpone
ments and delays including applications
for injunctions 1t is complained by
the commission that orders have been
issued by certain railroads prohibiting
employees from giving information to
agents of the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
But the orders of the commission
will be enforced rigidly according to
the following statement made here
THE promptness and willingness
with which the railroads generally have
complied with the commissions order
is a gratifying index to their spirit Of
operation in the administration Of
these salutary measures. Several Of the
Northeastern roads, however chafed
under the necessity of reporting the
reasons why they allowed overworked
and exhausted men to operate their
trains. to the jeopardy Of the travel
ing public. and took no appreciable
action during their year OF grace to
conform TO the statute. They can
tended that conditions of transporta-
tion are such that it would be at times
impossible for Nthe INTO handle their
traffic and passengers unless excep-
tions were made TO the strict require
ment of the law. These roads. at the
eleventh hour, sought to avail them
selves of the privilege of the 'exten-
sion clause contained in the act
"A fun hearing was afforded by the
commission, but the carriers without
exception were unable to show the
good cause which is prescribed by the
act as a prerequisite to the concession
Of further time I'm which 10 comply
with the provisions of the statute.
THE comm mission very properly de-
clined TO grant the desired extension.
Thereupon suits for injunction against
the Interstate Commerce Commission
to nullify its order were instituted by
the following roads: Lehigh Valley:
Pennsylvania; Baltimore and Ohio;
New York, Ontario and Western; New
York Central and Hudson River; New
York, New Haven and Hartford: Della
ware. Lackawanna and Western: Phil
adelphia and Reading. and the Central
Railroad Of New Jersey
"The language Of all the bills OF
complaint IS practically identical thus
manifesting the concert Of design on
the part Of the carrier to defeat a
measure devised primarily to conserve
the safety of the travelling public The
carriers allege in their bills that by
reason Of Oversight inadvertance or
mistake" infractions Of the law must
necessarily occur. and insist that they
should not be compelled 70 obey the
law. They also arrogate to themselves
the protection of the fourth and fifth
amendments to the Constitution Of the
United States insisting, contrary tc
the decision of the Supreme Court. thai
they should not be required to testify
against themselves
This is an unparalleled ascription oi
human instinct, as If a corporation
we're susceptible to the same con.
tumely as an individual, the penalt,
being visited upon the corporation fol
violation of the law, at most, a fin,
anywhere from I cent Of $500.
And not content with seeking thur
to restrict the means Of securing evi
dence. a leading official of these rail.
roads now attempts to close the las
avenue Of information by the issuanc,
OF a peremptory order to the effec
that no employe shall communicat,
with the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion except under the espionage o
the management
"The American spirit IS opposed {,
the secret service method of elicitinr
information, and the commission hai
recognized the fact that the army o
those employed to obtain clandestin,
evidence should be recruited no NOR
than is absolutely essential, and tha
recourse should be held to their ser
vices only as a last resort The atti
tude of these railroads seems to in
vite this method OF procedure trav
esty upon the administration Of jus
tice"
However. an inquiry at the Office o
the commission discloses the fact tina
IT has ample funds for the enforce
ment Of its orders.
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