Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-28
Railroad Officials Urge
Lack Of Good Operators
And Financial Hardships as
Arguments For Delay
In Enforcement Of the nine.hour
LaW.-.hearing Held.

Washington, Feb. 27.-Operating Of
ficials of railways from all parts of the
country were in attendance today .up-
on the hearing given by the interstate
Commerce Commission of applications
for an extension of the time of going
into effect OF the "nine-hour law" In
all 81 applications were received by the
commission asking for the extension.
Two of them have already been denied,
those of the Georgia Southern & Flori-
da Railway and the St. Joseph &
Grande Island Railway, because, in
the opinion of the commission, the pc
titiors did not show what. in the terms
pf the act, would constitute good
cause" for granting the relief request
ed.
The applications of the other Sd lines
are being heard as one case because
the petitions are substantially Identical.
All of them assert that they nave
found it impossible to procure the SER
vices of competent, efficient and depen-
dable telegraphers in such number as
will enable them to comply With the
provisions of the law; and that, even
if they could obtain the necessary OPP
orators, the enforced employment of
so many additional men would be a
financial hardship which the carriers
ought not to be subjected to. Nearly
all of the petitions also indicate that,
in the circumstances, if he law is en-
forced, the companies will be obliged
lines. thus interfering with the service,
to close many small stations on their
causing Inconvenience and possible loss
to the travelling and shipping public
and preventing the prompt movement
of trains. h,.
The bulloi of the applications came
from roads in the West and South
west. 1t Is regarded as significant that
with the exception of the New York
Central lines, none of the great East
ern roads have made APPLICATIONS for
extension. These include the Pennsyl-
vania, the Erie, the Delaware, Lack
awana & Western. the Lehigh Valley,
the Philadelphia G. Reading, the New
York, New Haven & Hartford, the Bos-
ton G. Maine, and others. In the North
west, the Wisconsin Central, the Great
Northern, and the Northern Pacific
are not represented among the appli
cants.
CHuti lllt IL VI lIlS
commission no road which does no.
apply for the extension can be Il bene-
ficiary of any order granting the ex-
tension to other lines, even if such
order should be granted. 1t is assumed
therefore that the companies which
have not applied. have made arrange
mcnts to conform to the provisions of
the law. when it becomes effective on
the fourth of March.
At the opening of the 9-hour law
hearing Chairman Knapp, of the In
terstate Commission. made it clear that
the commission could not undertake to
pass upon such features as clearly in
volved legislative policy.
During the hearing two important
systems Of railways, the Chicago.
Burlington & Quincy and the Southern
Railway. indicated that while it might
be possible to procure the necessary
additional labor required by an observ-
ance OF the law, it would mean simply
that curtailment Of operating ex-
penses in every direction would have
to be made.
In an opening statement to the COM
mission, c. Il. Gray of the st. Louis
N yah fdHClSCo lkdlliotu dit
tention to what he termed the "mar-
velous depression of the revenues Of
railways" which has taken place since
the first of last October. amounting
TO fully 20 per cent. He continued:
The carriers are likely to be in
vrlNed in financial disaster if the re-
Guc'ion should continue. If we are sub
jected to such an increase of ex-
penses rs this law contemplates. we
will have to ask an increase of rates
subsequently to Offset this increased
charge"
Daniel Willard, vice president of the
Burlington system. said that it would
be necessary for that line to employ
at least 2S5 additional men under the
law. As far as the Burlington was con-
cerned, it would withdraw it's request
for relief as to the employment of OPP
orators. Arrangements had been made
by which the system could comply
with the law, by the closing of certain
stations and by the transfer of oper-
atorS
II. d. Ferham. president of the Order
OF Railroad photographers. declared that
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 thous-
ands OF operators in all parts of the coun-
try VINO are now out of employment and
VINO would be willing to accept positions
on the railroads. These men, he said.
are experienced railway telegraphers for
the most part.
Z. H. Ackert. vice president and general
manager of the Southern Railway. testi-
ned that the decrease in business on the
southern Railway since the first of oc-
toher had been tremendous. resulting in
part In cancellation of passenger trains
alone to the amount of 5000 miles a day.
He did not think 1t would be possible to
get sufficient number of competent op-
orators to meet the laws requirements
H. c. Nudge. second vice president OF
the Rock Island system: J. G. Rawn
vice president Of the Illinois Central Rail.
way: George l.. Potter. operating WIGS
president of the Baltimore & Ohio: A. r
Lawton. first vice president of the Cen
trail of Georgia Railway. gave testimo
ny similar 10 that praxiorS