New-York tribune., 1908-02-12
RAILROADS MUST OBEY
Lar Cannot Be Suspended Ercept
in Particular Cases.

washington. Feb 11.-An important an
-.,,,cer,ent was made to-day by the Interstate
commerce. Commission respecting Ats attitude
-o-rs-d the request recently made by the oper-
.,,e vice presidents Of the railroads of the
~--,,es States that the so-called nine-hour law.
.,.-,,e TO the employment Of train dispatchers.
nj, operators and tower men, be suspended
=. commission until such time as the law
=. amended 10 meet the desires OF all con-
cerned.
--.-v 10 extend the time or suspend the
-s-so, Of the law. except IN a particular case
~.ses in which a hearing has been held ana
-.,,ss shown for the extension asked Fol-
- &c the text of the commissions announce
ent:
7boussnds Of letters and teiegrans Ieoelsea
-. +he last few days indicate widespread
N5t---ehension as to the power OF tne COM
nn4aa ro extend the law" which goes INTO
.rect March next hInluns the i s,,ant nou,s ~ or
- Of employees engaged III tie NOV -
s-e ursou interstate railroads
- o-lv authority in this record Is expressed
n the law as follows me 11.n beaT,nr IN
Inee--icnlar case, and for good cause SHOWN,
v.sn6 the period within which common Ca. -.
rs~ shall comply with inc pfosisioiS oh 'iiA0
--viso as 70 such case
re PROVISION referred TO Is that part OF sec
.,- . which provides that no empIoye MHo
l.-5lzs ~ rain orders by telegraph or telephone
1s1Sc' =. reouired or permitted to be on duty
80 80 than nine horses out Of the twenly-Iour aI
asoss e. continually operated night and DAY nor
Gu nan thirteen hours out of the twenty
y =res ouerated only during the DAY time.
r,sr- IN case of emergency, when tour aooi-
,onsl hours may be required on not nor Iiie. s
s--e dsvs in any week No other provision OF
Ia.ee can be extended modified by the
t. noxVer TO extend under this proviso is
..-,s1v limited This is evident from the
80 i71por1 Of the language above quoted
- n. context TO which il relates and from
rs OBVIOUS purpose Of the entire enactment
= sss-os clear TO US that nothing more was IN
-srded than TO authorize the coTnnllssion' IN eA-
,snrionsl instances where conolrlons are uh-
rs,,el or unforeseen, 10 enlarge sorneWhaC Inc
- allowed 70 prepare for compliance Cono1-
eio-s which are common TO many railroads, or
"a = substantial percentage OF 1eleSIdph So So
.3,rs are conditions which must have been
.,ran tnto account when the law was passed and
n rot constitute "a particular case for rehef
nv the commission =
55fnr more definitely in advance Of full hear
ing" upon such applications as may De naaoe-
hat good cause" for extension Is not SHOWN SHOWN
zAen il is merely alleged or made to appear
.hst the law ought not to be enforced at cef
-air stations or classes Of stations because Ihe
---nhe- Of train orders handled is small ana
-berg is no need of increasing the force Of en-
Moves Neither would II be good cause, as we
bsiieve 70 show that additional operators can
not be obtained al the wages now OF hereto-
.o-s o=Tered If II appears reasonably certain
-bs+ higher wages would procure the requisite
nunber These are purely questions OF leglsla-
-a-nire5 By the Congress adversely TO the car
-iers and the commission has no rignt or au-
thority 10 postpone the taking effect of this law
-oa-sIv because its observance viii involve in
convenience and financial hardship.
We are also Of the opinion that such power
Is We have must be exercised before tne law
takes effect It is the power TO extend the Pc
-iod allowed for preparation, not the power TO
suspend after the law has become obligatory
The-e<o-e we can afford no relief after March
d except n the particular cases where exten-
gions nav have been granted prior to that day
This announcement Is made for public in
formation and TO the end that all interested
ra-ties may be duly advised