The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-03-07
AFTER TWO YEARS TO PREPARE FOR NINE
HOUR LAW RAILROADS RESORT TO BLUFF
Swear That They Cannot
Get Enough Telegraph
Operators While Over
5000 Are Seeking En-
ployment Along One Line
Alone.
BY gibson GARDNER

The biggest national railroad
bluff in the history of the world.
THE nine hour law is out of the
question" said the railroads. 1--WE
can't get the men. Well have to
close up great many stations.
Some Of us will be forced to cut
salaries. You are making a great
mistake. We ought to have more
time"
Two years ago congress enacted
law providing that on and after
March 4, 1908, no railway teleg-
rapher should work more than nine
hours.
That gave the railroads two
years to prepare.
There Is not a railroad in the
country today that is not clamoring
for more time.
They have been besieging the in
terstate commerce commission.
Recently the Frisco system pre-
scented Is affidavits, signed by its
IL division chiefs. swearing that
they had been unable to secure the
extra men.
The aff1davits were scarcely Of
fered before Chief Perham, OF the
Order OF Railroad Telegraphers,
was on his feet.
Mr.. Chairman" he said, 81 offer
you 6,149 original letters from un:
employed men in the states
through which the Frisco system
runs. They are all bona fide APP
plications for work by competent
men. l will read them"
Don't do that" said Chairman
Knapp. I'VE will take your word
for It,"
II only wanted to show" said
Perham, that there are plenty Of
telegraph operators looking for
work"
More than 100 traffic managers
crowded into a recent meeting OF
the commission.
Every one was there to back up
the appeal Of the railroads for more
time.
Some OF the railroad men had
been to Speaker Cannon and had
tried to get him to amend the law
by extending the time or abolishing
the provision. The speaker was
much embarrassed by these re-
quests. He is a candidate for presi-
dent. He has not wanted to offend
either the railroads or the tele-
graph operators.
The commission only replied:
"You had two years. Why didn't
you do something about it before ?"
"All right" the railroads have
said, darkly. Remember, you are
forcing us to this"
That is why March 4 ushered in
a national hit-back policy on the
part Of the railroads.
They are angry because the gov
eminent has dared to say that meh
shall not be driven like cattle, and
made to bend over their telegraph
keys until exhaustion renders them
unfit for duty. They are indignant
because the government is deter
mined that II there are to be dis
astrous railroad wrecks with loss
of life and property, these at least
| SIdlA lIOl NC auC w oNSi WV hNu
operators asleep in their offices.
So the railroads are closing up
many day offices.
They are combining many of
their night Offices.
At least five great systems talk
ed Of cutting wages to pay the sal
aries of the extra men whom they
have been compelled to employ.
Each of these steps is reprisal
against the government. Every
closed station, every cut salary,
every inconvenience offered the
travelling and shipping public Is one
more turn Of the screw, so that the
seeds may be sown for wave of
popular discomfort against govern
ment regulation Of terms of en-
ployment.