Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-02-28
WESTERN SOUTHERN LINES
Big Eastern Re- <cept New York
Central No <S.ssented.
Claim that New Law Will Cause
Great Financial Hardship.
OPERATORS ARE ALSO SCARCE
Head of Railway TeIesraphers Denies
This Allegation and Says Hum
dreds of Competent Men
Are Idle.

were IN atLen0AnCe upon LHd htdElhb blNNh
by the interstate Commerce commission OF
applications for an extension Of the time
Of the going into effect of the ''nine-hour
law"
In ALL thlrty-seven applications were re-
ceived by the commission asking for the
extension. Two of them already have been
denied those Of the Georgia Southern &
Florida railway and the St. Joseph q
Grand Island railway, because in the opin-
ion OF the commission, the petitions did
not show what. In the terms Of the act
would constitute good cause for granting
the relief requested. The applications Of the
Other thirty-five lines are being heard as
one case because the petitions are sub
stantially 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 viii enable them to comply
with the provisions Of the law; and that
even II they could obtain the necessary
operators. the enforced employment Of so
many additional men would be financial
hardship which the carriers ought not to
be subjected to. Nearly all Of the petitions
also indicate that, In the circumstances, II
the law is enforced. the companies will be
liged to close many small stations on
II lines thus Interfering with the serv-
causing Inconvenience and possible
Soss to the travelling and shipping public
and preventing the prompt movement OF
trains.
Roads Making Application.
Following are the names OF the roads
which have filed applications for extension
OF the law
Railway, st. L0uis & San Francisco, Sea-
board Air Line, Chicago, Rock Island &
Pacific; Yazoo & Mississippi Valley, Illinois
Central, Indianapolis Southern, Baltimore e.
Ohio. Central OF Georgia, Oregon Railroad
and Navigation company, Oregon Short
Line NV Wabash railroad NO Norfolk = Vest Vest
Western, Chicago, indianapolis & Dayton;
Chicago Cincinnati & Louisville: Southern
roads Missouri. Kansas & Texas and the
MISSOURI, Kansas & Texas of Texas FL
Pesa 4 N9rthsssstern's LoTisisna western western,
Louis Evsnsviiie 4 Terre HSute, Georgia
csgo. Miiwaukee 4 st PAUL Union Pa
Nashville.
1t Is regarded as significant that. with
the exception OF the New York Central
lines, none OF the great eastern roads has
made application for extension These in
clude the Pennsylvania. the Erie the
Delaware. Iackawanna & Western; the
Lehigh Valley, the New Jersey Central,
the PhiladelphiH & Reading, tho New York,
New Haven & Hartford the Boston &
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 II such order should be issued. It is
assumed. therefore, that tho companies
which have not applied have made arrange
ments TO conform to the provisions OF the
law when Il becomes effective on March l.
The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy and
the Southern Railway indicated by state
ments and evidence that while it might
be possible TO procure the necessary addi-
tional labor required by an observance of
the law. II would involve a great financial
hardship upon the railroads
Decrease I'm Earnings.
In an opening statement TO the commits
sion c. r. Gray OF the st. Louis & San
Francisco railroad directed attention to
what he termed the marvellous depression
of the revenue of railways which had taken
place since October / last. amounting in
general fully to 90 per cent. I'm no way"
said he. has it been found possible to in
crease the operating expenses in view Of
this immense reduction of revenues The
carriers are likely to be involved in finan-
cial disaster II the reduction should con
tinue. II we are subjected to such an in
crease Of operating expenses as this law
contemplates we will have to ask an in
crease of rates subsequently TO offset this
increased charge"
''Is not this a matter" inquired Chair
man Knapp, FOR legislative action, rather
than for relief from this commisslon?'
Mr.. Gray responded that the railroads
deemed Il necessary to present the matter
to congress, but delays In legislation were
always unavoidable and relief was neces-
sary Immediately. He believed that under
the Law, the commission might afford at
least temporary relief.
Burlington MOdIAes Application.
Daniel Willard said that II would be
necessary for his line Burlington to en-
ploy az least 2S5 additional men under the
operation Of the law. 50 far as the Bur
lington was concerned It would withdraw
its request for relief as to the employment
Of operators. Arrangements had been made
by which the system could comply with the
law by the closing OF certain stations and
by the transfer OF operators. He said that
II the business OF the company were as
great now as Il was October l last this ar
rangement would not be practicable Mr.
Willard explained that as to seventy-six
, stations on the Burlington. relief was asked
OF the commission.
There is nothing In the law" said Chair
man Knapp. which oontemplates the in
definite suspension OF the abrogation OF the
law"
Plenty of Idle OPERATOR.
H. 3. Perham. president OF the order OF
hallway Telegraphers in statement de-
elared that there was no 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 were now out OF employment