The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-17
RAILROADS AIM ID
 OBEY NEW LAWS
Baltimore 6 Ohio Adopts the
 Nine Hour System
OTHERS WAIT FOR HEARING
interstate Commerce Commission Will Discuss Nine-Hour Law With Rail- road Officials February 27
 and Adjust Differences.

Washington, February l6.-Gratifleatlon ia expressed by the interstate commerce commission over two conditions that have arisen within a day or two. In con- crete form they mean that American rail- way officials, as a class, are doing all that is ia their power to meet situations that have developed under new laws ap- plying to interstate traffic. The effect of this disposition on the part of the carriers Is reassuring 10 the members of the commission and is quite certain to be equally so to the people of the country
 Information has reached the commission that the Baltimore and Ohio railroad proposes to put into effect tomorrow throughout it's system the so-called nine hour law" which by it's terms does not become operative until March next. The law limits the hours of service of all classes of train dispatchers, railroad telegraphers, tower men and signal oper- ators. Recently the interstate commerce commission was requested by the oper- ating presidents of 10 or F important systems of railway to extend the time of going into effect of the nine hour provision applying to employees who direct the movement of trains. It was pointed out that nine hours constituted an un- usual and awkward period, duties of that kind having to be performed "A hours every day.
 If two shifts of train dispatchers, tele- graph operators and signal men each worked nine hours there would be a period of six hours in every "A which could not be covered satisfactorily, either to the men themselves or to the rail- roads. It was indicated that tricks Of eight hours might be better for all con cerned but for such a period of work the men could not be paid wages which they would regard as adequate for their needs. Aud in addition it might be diff ticult to obtain the services of enough skilled men to make up three shifts ev- cry 24 hours on all of the railroads in America.
 Already the commission has set Febru- arv s7 as date on which it will hear for app satsess for d n essseasian Of the time of the operation of the nine hour provision. If the time be extended as to the railroads which are able to show the commission good cause for the extension-and the extension if granted will apply only to the particular lines which make application and whose ap- plcations are heard formally-it is said proposal will be made in Congress for the amendment of the law in accordance with the showing made before the com- mission.
 Another source of qualification to the committee is the very general compliance of the railroads with that provision of the Hepburn act which makes it obliga- tory upon carriers to submit to the com mission monthly reports covering every phase of the operation of interstate rail- roads. A few weeks ago it was announced in a tentative way that several inn portait systems, notably the New York Central lines had declined to furnish re- ports to the commission in accordance with the law and in conformity with the regulations and forms prescribed by the commission It was held by the counsel for the New York Central lines, for in stance that the provision of the law was unconstitutional and it was understood to be the advice of counsel that the officials refuse the report. Within a day or two an understanding had been reached between the commission and the New York Cen tral by which the road has filed with the commission complete reports of its operations for the five months ended November 30 last. The commission now has complete reports for five months end- ing November 30 of 90 per cent of the railroad mileage of the country.