The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-29
HAD TO SIGN Them
Oh BE DISCHARGED.
Operators on Sante Te Declare
Officials Forced Them to Sign
Letters Regulating Perham.

WAsHINGToN. February 2S.-When
the hearing before the Interstate Com
merce Commission on the application
for an extension of the nine-hour law
fprrer Secretary of the Navy, made an
argument in behalf of the Seaboard
Mir Line. He contelided that owing TO
the financial condition of the road it
would be Il serious hardship for 1t to
comply with the provisions of the law:
that 1t couil not so comply without
embarrassment in its operating ex-
penses, Mr.. Herbert pointed cut that
the Seaboard recently had been placed
in the hands of receivers, and that the
receivers, being new to their work,
ought TO be afforded time to adjust
themselves to tne present conditions
in order that they might protect the
stockholders and bondholders of this
insolvent line.
Lucien Cooke, of the Norfolk and
WcSit I'll. said.
Our company does not come before
this commission asking favors of 1t.
commission TO pass upon this question
as IT Is mine to present it. The time
has come for you to recognize the con
ditions existing, and we believe that
ask. We expect to comply with this
law, but we ask time to adjust our
selves to it's provisions on account of
the unprecedented conditions, financial
anu OtlcTWlSe, WHICH nave arisen since
the law was enacted
Signed Under Protest.
In presenting the case of the Atchl-
son, Topeka and Santa Fe. C. III. Gaunt.
assistant general manager. said he
tograpf letters from l,40t operators on
that line, stating that Fl. b. Perham,
president of the Order of Railway Te-
leSrapiIers, was not authorized to rep
resent them before the commission.
"a nf FOL IL .
leeted Chairman Knapp, from opera
tors on your line, which state they
signed such letters as you refer to
under protest"
Il would like to know suggested
Mr. Gaunt, "who. they are?'
I cannot furnish you with that in
&c responded the chairman,
Thereupon Chairman Knapp read two
or. three of the kilograms. which, in
effect stated that the signers had
been threatened with discharge il they
refused to sign. letters which We're
w w 81 at the dietation and direction
presented some of the letters which
ne had in hand, and Chairman Knann
INQUIRED II they had been prepared
DE oihclalS of the company
They We're not" replied Mr.. Gaunt
me chairman then read letter
from an operator who said that he
nad been presented with letter pre-.
p' ~ ioi ilis signature by an ofIlcia
\ of the company.
! Charges Intimidation.
Mr.. perham, president OF the Orde
OF Railway Photographers. explainef
1 that he had in his possession letter
| from thousand or more operator
4 on the Santa F'e system. authorizin,
him to represent them at this hear
He alleged that the Santa Fe on
dfnyored to intimidate Its operators
that operators had been discharge,
4 Tor. trivial causes, among the cause
being membership in the Order n
Railway Telegraphers. He produce,
a telegram informing him that thre
operators had been discharged bocaus
they mad declined to sign a letter 1
the Interstate Commerce Commissio
company. - "
Mr.. Gaunt explained that the SAINT
ne had had difficulty with the telegra
pliers order because of the strike o
that line several wears ago, and tina
owing to that trouble 1t was expe
riencing difficulty now in securing me
! to man It's wires under the new Law
The cases of several other railway
We're heard but, in essential detail
they did not differ from those al
ready presented, The hearing prot
ably VIII be concluded tomorrow.