New-York tribune., 1908-02-24
BOARD BETWEEN FIRES
Labor Men and Railroads For and
AGAINST Nine Hour Ld1c.

Washington. Feb. .2S.-In the opinion of the
operating officials of railways they have not been
confronted for many years with condition so seri-
is contained in the mine hour law, which,
by its terms, becomes effective March T. In
personal conference and in correspondence with the
Interstate Commerce Commission. the officials have
indicated an intention to conform to the act, but
they express the belief that it will not be possible
fully and Immediately to comply with the require
ments-
Petitions of a considerable number of American
railroad companies have been filed with the Inter
state Commerce Commission requesting that
tension of the time of the going into effect of the
law be granted them. The principal reasons as
signed in all of the petitions for the requested
tension time the inability of the companies
obtain the services OF competent, efficient and
dependable telegraph operators and the financial
hardship. particularly at the present time. which
the employment of thousands of additional men
will impose them. Some minor
given in few of the petitions but the two referred
to constitute the burden of all the statements made
by the carriers.
On next Thursday. the 9th instant. the commits
sion will accord to a large number of railways a
formal hearing. at which effort will be made to
thrash the matter of the extension of the law.
An effort also will be made determine whether
not financial hardship and inability to obtain
operators constitute what the act itself terms
good cause for extension Of the time of the
effectiveness of the act.
Already case, that of the Georgia South
& Florida, the commission has indicated in an
opinion that it will not consider the subject from
legislative point of view. II also has indicated that
whatever extension it might grant under the law
necessarily would have be temporary as it has
authority to annul the statute. In the minds of
the commissioners has arisen, therefore the ques-
tion whether the arguments about financial hard
ships and inability to obtain operators would
not be just forceful six mOnths hence as they
now. II has been pointed out. tOOs that these
arguments presented to Congress at the time
the measure was considered but that neverthe-
less the bill was crystallized into law
The commission. by the wording of the act Is
placed between two fires-that the railroads
which desire extension and that of the labor
organizations, which demand enforcement of the
statute. Thousands of kilograms letters on the
subject have been received by the commission most
of them protesting against the granting of an ex-
tension.
the circumstances il is certain the cornriss on
will with and deliberation. 1t can be said
positively that administrative body it does
not undertake to assume any responsibility for
conditions created by a legislative act that does
not belong to 1T properly.
II the operation of the law should not prove to be
satisfactory the railroads. TO the employees and
to the people. in the nature OF things il will be
necessary for Congress TO amend it, but the COM
mission is inclined tentatively to the view that
only actual trial will determine whether the act
is satisfactory not. II any inconvenience be
closing of great number of the smaller stations
on railway lines through the operation of the law.
practically all operating officials of the COM
panies assert. It is quite strong sentiment
will be created in favor of the laws amendment by
Congress.