The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-28
Representatives Appear In Num- bers Before eInter- State Con-
 merce Commission
GENERAL COMPLAINT
 MADE BY OFFICIALS
General Manager Ackert Tells of Troubles on the Southern Lines and Asks Commission To
 Give Relief.

Washington. February 27.-operating officials of railways from all parts of the country today were in attendance upon the hearing given by the interstate com merce commission of applications for an extension of the time of going into eff feet of the nine-hour law.
 In all 37 applications were received by the commission asking for the extension. Two of them already have been denied, those of the Georgia Southern and Flor ida and the St. Joseph and Grand Island railways, because, in the opinion of the commission. the petition did not show, what in the terms of the act would constitute good cause" for granting the relief requested. The applications of the other 35 lines are being heard, as one case, because the petitions are substan- tially identical. All of them assert that they have found it impossible to pro- cure the services of competent, efficient and dependable telegraph operators in such numbers as will enable them to con- ] ply with the provisions of the law, and i that even if they could obtain the nec- essary operators, the employment of so many additional men would be finan- cial hardship which the carriers ought not to be subjected to. Nearly all of the petitions also indicate that in the circumstances, if the law is engrossed, the companies will be obliged to close many small stations on their lines. thus interfering with the service. causing in- convenience and possible loss to the trav- cling and shipping public and preventing 1f at,.u
 Significant Fact.
 It is regarded as significant that, with 1fie exception of the New York Cen tral lines, none of the great eastern roads have made application for exten- sion. These include the Pennsylvania, the Erie, the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western, the Lehigh Valley, the New Jer- sey Central, the Philadelphia and Read ing, the New York, New Haven and Hartford, the Boston and Maine, and others. In the northwest, the Wisconsin Central the Great Northern and the Northern Pacific are not represented among the applicants.
 Under the law and a ruling of the com mission no road which does not apply for the extension can be a beneficiary of any order granting the extension to other lines. even if such order should be issued. It Is assumed, therefore, that the companies which have not applied have made arrangements to conform to the provisions of the law when 1t becomes effective March 1.
 Point Explained.
 At the opening of tie hearing Chairman Knapp, Of the commission, made it clear in brief statement that the commission could not undertake to pass upon legsla- tive features of the law or such features as clearly involved legislative policy. In the course of the hearing two impor- tant systems of railways, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy and .ne Southern railway, indicated by statements and evil dence that while it might be possible to procure the necessary additional labor re- quired by an observance of the law, it would involve a great financial hardship upon the railroads. General Manager Ackert of the Southern railway frankly stated that his system could not bear the burden of the additional expense and that if the law was enforced it would mean synply that curtailment of operating ex- penses in every direction would have to be, made, throwing many out of employ ment.
 H. B. Perham, president of the Order of Railway Photographers, in a statement de- clared that there was question about the ability of the railways to obtain the necessary number of operators required under the law; that he had knowledge of thousands of operators in all parts of the country who are now out of employment and who would be willing to accept posi- tions on the railroads
 Ackert Asks Relief
 c. H. Ackert, ce-president and general manager of the Southern railway, testi- fled that as to 300 stations his system asked the commission for relief He said that the decrease in business on the Southern railway since the 1st of October had been tremendous, resulting in part. in the taking off of passenger trains alone to the amount of 5000 miles a day He ex- plained that it would be necessary under "A the law for the Southern to employ 220 operators additional to those now in the employ of the company. He said that for six or eight months the Southern had been endeavoring to obtain list of com- petent operators and to that end had sup ported schools at Mooresville, s. O., and Danyille, Va. He did not think 1t would be possible for the company to get a suf- ficient number of competent, efficient and reliable operators to meet the require- ments.
 Are you earning your fixed charges:" inquired Special Counsel Moore.
 We are not replied MT. Ackert.
 Are you reducing operating expenses?"
 We are," responded MT. Ackert, ''every day. If we are compelled to employ addi- tional operators we will be obliged to re- duce expenses in other lines We can not comply with this law and at the same time meet our other obligations. We cannot increase our expenses and keep out of the hands of the bondholders of the road. We are struggling to prevent a catastrophe. Our fixed charges are in excess of $11,00O00O per annum. We did not earn half of our fixed. charges in De- cember. Of the first seven days of Feb II ruary we went off $S6000 day, and the decrease still continues"
 More Time Asked.
 You are virtually asking us, sug- gested Chairman Knapp. Ito apply the >>~~~-~~~~~-~->
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