The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-28


wv country to-day were in at
tendance Upon the hearing
given by the Interstate Commerce COM
mission OF applications for an exten-
sion OF tho time OF the going into ef-
cect OF tho "ninc-hour law"
Thirty-seyen applications were re-
ceivcd asking for tho extension. Two
OF them already iiavo been denied
those OF the Georgia Southern and
Florida Railway and the st. Joseph
and Grand Island Rallway-becausc, In
tho opinion OF the commission. the petit
tions did not show what, in the terms
Of the act. would constitute good
cause" for granting the relief request
ed. The applications OF the other
thirty-five lines are being heard as
one case. All of them assert that they
have found It impossible to procure
tho services of competent operators In
such numbers as will enable them to
comply with the provisions OF the law.
and that, even II they could. the en-
forced employment Of so many addi-
tional nen would &c financial hard
ship.
Nearly all of the petitions also indi-
cate that. under the circumstances. n
the law liz enforced. tie companies will
be Obliged to close many small sta
tions on their lines.
Petitions of Southern Roads. -.
Following arc among the roads
which have filed applications for ex-
tension Of the law: Southern Railway.
Seaboard Air Line. Yazoo and M!ssis-
sippi Valley. Baltimore and Ohio Cen
tral of Georgia. Norfolk and Western,
Nashville Chattanooga and ST. Louis.
10 Nu
With the exception OF the New York
Central lines. none OF the great East
ern roads have made application for
extension
In the course of the hearing two
important systems-The Chicago. Bur-
lington and Quincy and the Southern
Railway-Indicated by statements and
evidence that while II might be possi-
BILE to procure the necessary additional
labor required. II would involve a great
financial hardship upon the railroads.
General Manager Ackert. of the South
ern Railway. frankly stated that his
system could not bear the burden Of
the additional expense, and that IL the
law was enforced 1t would mean simply
that curtailment of operating expenses
in every direction would have to be
made, throwing many out of employ
ment.
FIenty OF Operators.
II. 3. Perham, president of the Order
of Railway Telegraphers. in state
ment, declared that there was no aues-
tion about the ability Of the railways
to obtain the necessary number OF
operators required under the law: tina t
he hal knowledge OF thousands of
operators In all parts of the country
who are now out OF employment, and
would he willing to accept positions on
the railroads.
Effect ON the Southern.
c. II. Ackert. vice-president and gem
eral manager OF the Southern Railway
testified that as to 800 stations. his sys-
tenn asked the commission for relief.
He said that the decrease in business
on tho Southern Railway since the first
OF October had been tremendous, re-
sulttng. In part, in the taking off OF
passenger trains alone to the amount
of 5000 miles a day. He explained that
it would be necessary under the law
Tor the Southern to employ 220 opera :
tors additional to those now in the
employ OF the company. He said that
Tor SIN or eight months the Southern
had been endeavoring to obtain list
OF competent operators and to that
end had supported schools at Moores.
Vile. ~ G.. and Danville. We. He did
j not think 1t would he possible for the
company to get sufficient number o1
compntent. efficient and reliable opera
tors 70 meet the requirements.
Are you earning your nxee
charges? inquired Special counse
Moore.
We are not" replied Mr. Ackert
pcnses?" "e 80
we, are responded Mr.. Ackcrt
every day. II wc are compelled I,
employ additional opera tors we vii
be obliged to reduce expenses in otha,
lines. We cannot comply with thi
law and at the same time meet on
other obligations. We cannot increas
our expenses and keep out OF the hand
OF the bondholders Of the road. ",
are struggling to prevent catastro
plle. Our fixed charges are In exces
or ~ ,o00,0OO per anntlm. We did no
earn half Of our fixed charges In De
mt'rf, cember, In the first seven days o
4 February we went off $4,000 q day
and the decrease still continues"
You are virtually asking u.s." sue
Eested Chairman Knapp, Ito apply tn
lawto one-third OF Your stations an,
abrogate It as tostwo-thlrds OF them:
We are asking that the time be ex
tended, : replied Mr., Ackert, "until W,
get the money to pay
In other words" said Commissions
KNAPP Congress has legtslated as t
pne-thlrd of the stations. and you asl
us to legislate as to the othor two
thirds"
The Scaboar!'s Situation
7, +, Whittelsey, general manage
Of the seaboard Line, testified gener
ally to the fact that there had been
serious slump In the revenues of tn
seaboard Air Line during the past fou
months, and that While 1t might b
possible for the company to secure TIL