The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-02-29
SIGNED AND THEN
CLAIMED 4 FOUL
Santa Fe Railway Put in q Hole
by Telegraph 0per-
atorS.
HEARING AT WASHINGTON
MISSION LOADED.
HEARING AT WASHINGTON


Washington. Feb. 2S-When the
the hearing before the interstate
commerce commission on the applica-
ton for an extension for the nine-hOuT
law was resumed today, Hilary A. Her.
bert, former secretary of the navy
made an argument i'm behalf of the
Sea Board Air Line. He contended
that owing 10 the financial condition
Of the road it could not comply with
the law without embarrassment in. its
operating expenses
Mr.. billiard, representing the Union
Pacific, having stated that it would be
impossible for his lines at various re-
mote stations to supply accommoda-
lions to a third operator, II. &. Per-
ham, president of the Railway Teleg-
raphers, stated that he had received in
formation from points along the Union
Pacific that il was entirely possible for
the extra operator to be provided with
the accommodations named by Mr.. Dill
lard.
E. L. stump. general chairman of the
Unions Pacific telegraphers, also stated
that accommodations could be fur
nishec.
Signed Under Protest.
In presenting the case of the Atchi-
II. Guant, assistant general manager,
said he could lay before the commits
sion autograph letters from ,406 Operat-
Ors on that line stating that II. b.
Perham was not authorized TO repre-
sent them before the commission.
II have a score of kilograms" inter
jected Chairman Knapp. from operat-
ors on your line which state that they
signed such letters as you refer to I'M
der protest"
Il would like to know" suggested
Mr.. Gaunt, who they are?"
II cannot furnish you with that in
formation" responded the chairman,
laughingly.
Thereupon Chairman Knapp read
two or three of the kilograms, which.
in effect. stated thai the signers had
been threatened with discharge if they
refused to sign letters which were writ
ten at the dictation and direction of
officials of the Santa Fe road. Mr.
Gaunt presented some of the letters
which he had in hand, and Chairman
Knapp inquired if they had been pre-
pared by officials of the company.
"They were not" replied Mr.. Gaunt.
The chairman then read a letter from
an operator who said that he had been
presented with a letter prepared for
his signature by an official of the COM
Dany.
intimidation Alleged.
MI Perham, president of the Union
of Railway photographers. explained
that he had in his possession letters
from thousand or more operators on
the Santa Fe system authorizing him
to represent them at this hearing. He
alleged that the Santa Fe endeavOred
To intimidate its operators; that oper-
ators had been discharged for trivial
causes. among the causes being MEM
bership in the order of Railway Teleg
Taphers. He produced A telegram in
forming him that three operators had
been discharged because they had de-
clined TO sign a letter 10 the interstate
commerce commission presented to
them by the commission.
Mr.. Gaunt explained that the Santa
Fe had had difficulty with the teleg-
raphers' order because of the strike on
the line several years ago, and that
owing to that trouble il was expert
encing difT1culty now in securing men
TO man its wires under the new law.
Suppose you cannot get the menu
inquired Chairman Knapp, what will
you Coz"
"CIose the offices We cannot man."
replied Mr.. Gaunt, land incur the adj
ditional hazard of operation. In the
course of time we shall reopen these
offices. but it may take us six
months
The cases of several other railways
We're heard, but in essential details
they did not differ from those already
presented. The hearing probably will
be concluded tomorrow.