Los Angeles herald., 1908-02-28
NINE-HOUR
LAW MEETS
MANY FOES
RAILROADS LINE UP TO DELAY
ENFORCEMENT
COMMERCE COMMISSION HEARS
LARGE DELEGATION
Thirty-SeVen Applications Received
Asking That Measure Be Not
Put Into Effect Until Pros
perlty Is Restored
By Associated Press.

By Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Feb 27.-Operating
officials of railways from all parts of
the country today were in attendance
upon the hearing given by the inter-
state commerce commission upon ap-
plication for an extension of time for
the going into effect of the nine-hour
law.
Thirty-seven applications were re-
ceived by the commission asking for
the extension. Two of them already
have been denied-those of the Georgia
Southern e. Florida railroad and of the
st. Joseph & Grand Island railway, be-
cause in the opinion of the commission
the petitions did not show what in the
terms of the act would constitute good
causes" for granting the relief re-
quested.
The applications of the other thirty
five roads are being heard as one case
because the petitions are substantially
identical. All of them assert that they
have found it impossible to secure the
services of competent, efficient and de-
pendable telegraph operators in such
numbers as will enable them to comply
with the provisions of the law, and that
even if they could obtain the necessary
operators the enforced employment of
so many additional men would be a
financial hardship which the carriers
OubhI llOL " NC GQpJcClCo w.
Threaten Suspensions
Nearly all of the petitions also indi-
cate that, in the circumstances If the
law is enforced, the companies will be
obliged to close many small stations on
their lines" thus interfering with the
service and causing an inconvenience,
Especially to the travelling and ship
ping public, and preventing the prompt
movement of trains"
Among the roads which have filed ap-
plications for extensions of the law are
the Oregon Railroad and Navigation
company, Oregon Short Line, Atchison,
Topeka g. Santa Fe, Southern Pacific
and Union Pacific.
1t is regarded as significant that, with
the exception of the New York Central
lines, none of the great eastern roads
have made application for the extern
sion In the northwest the Great
Northern and the Northern Pacific are
not represented among the applicants.
1t is assumed that the companies
which have not applied have made ar
rangements to conform to the pro-
visions of the law when it becomes
effective March 4.
GRAY Makes a Talk
In an opening statement to the COM
mission, C.. r. Gray of the st. Louis &
San Francisco railroad directed atten-
ton to what he termed the marvellous
depression of the revenues of the rail-
roads which had taken place since the
first of last October, amounting in gen.
eral to fully 20 per cent.
I'm no way" said he, had it been
found possible to increase the operating
expenses in view of this immense re-
duction of revenues. The carriers are
likely to be involved in financial dis
aster if the reduction should continue.
eff we are subjected to such an in
crease of operating expenses as this law
contemplates we will have to ask an
increase of rates subsequently to on
set the increased charge"
'Is not this a matter" inquired Cnalr-
man Knapp, "for legislative action
rather than for relief from this commits
Urges Prompt Relief
Mr.. Gray responded that the rail-
roads deemed 1t necessary to present
the matter to congress, but delays IN
legislation were always unavoidable
and relief was necessary Immediately
He believed that under the law the
commission might afford at least tenn
porary relief.
H B. Perham, president of the Order
of Railway Telegraphers, declared there
was no question about the ability OF
the railroads to obtain the necessary
number of operators required under the
law: that he had knowledge of thou
sands of operators in all parts of the
country who were now out of employ
,nent and who would be willing to ac-
cent positions on the railroads. These
men. he said, were for the most part
experienced railroad telegraphers.
II. u. Nudge, second vice president or
the Rock Island system, said that pusl-
ness had fallen off to such an extent III
the mast three months that while year
ago the road was experiencing short"
ace of cars it now had about 1000 idle
cars.
Cannot Obey Law
He nointed out that under normal
conditions the road would be seriously
embarrassed by the enforcement of the
law. but that under existing conditions
il would not be able to comply with the
new law o,,
s'You want us, them" said Chairman
Knapp, "to make an order ahtlclpaIory
of a return of prosperity?
Mr.. Nudge replied that the ROCK
Island fortunately was in position 10
pay it's fixed charges, but 1t had hoped
that the commission might see ltS way
clear to grant a reasonable extension,
because if prosperity should return to
the country as suddenly as adversity
had come the system would be placed
in a very serious predicament.
Similar arguments were presented m
behalf of other large railroads.
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nEEIrEpc EcTE0 RY