The Mena weekly star., 1908-03-05


 Washington, Feb. 2S--Operating of ficials of railways from all parts of the country Thursday were in attend ance upon the hearing given by the interstate commerce commission upon applications upon an extension of time of going into effect of the nine-hoL. law.
 Thirty-seven applications were read by the commission asking for the ex- tension. Two of them already have been denied, those of the Georgia Southern and Florida railway and the St. Joseph and Grand Island railway. because in the opinion of the commis- sion the petitions did not show what. in the terms of the act, would consti- ute good causes for granting the relief requested. The applications Of the other B lines are being heard as one case because the petitions are substantially identical. All of them assert that they have found it impos- sible to procure the services of com petent, efficient and dependable tele- graph operators in such numbers as will enable them to comply with the provisions of the law: and that, even if they could obtain the necessary op- 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, under the circumstances, if the law Is enforced. the companies will be obliged to close many small stations on their lines. thus interfering with fhe service, causing inconvenience and possible loss to the travelling and ship ping public and preventing the prompt movement Of trains
 It is regarded as significant that. with the exception of the New York Central lines, none of the great east ern roads have made application for extension. These include the Pennsyl- vania, the Erie. the Delaware, Lack awanna & Western; the Lehigh Val ley, the New Jersey Central, the Phil. adelphia & Reading. the New York, New Haven & Hartford, the Boston and Maine. and others. In the north. west, the Wisconsin Central. the Great Northern and the Northern Pacific are not represented among the applicants.
 Under the law and ruling of the commission no road which does not apply for the extension can be a bene- ficiary of any order granting the exten- sion to other lines, even If such. order should be issued It is assumed, there fore. that the companies which have not applied have made arrangements to conform to the provisions of the law when it becomes effective on the fourth of March.
 At the opening of the hearing. Chair man Knapp of the commission, made II clear in a brief statement that the commission could not undertake to pass upon legislative features of the law. or such features as clearly in volved legislative policy.
 In the course of the hearing two i'm portant systems of railways. the Chi. cago. Burlington & Quincy and the Southern Railway. indicated by state. ments and evidence, that while 1t ll16nt UE RVoo4tAt " fAb1utt NAV h'7 cessary additional labor required by an observance of the law, it would in volve 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 simply that curtailment of operating expenses. in every direction, would have to be made. Such curtailment. he said, would put out of employment many men now occupying positions with the company.
 Omaha, Feb. 2S.--It was announced by the Union Pacific. Northwestern & Burlington railroads Thursday follow ing meeting of operating and traffic officials of these lines that they would observe literally the nine. hour law which becomes effective March f. These three roads will em- ploy about 200 additional telegraphers on lines west of the Missouri river.
 MILLIONAIRE ON TRIAL.