The Washington herald., 1908-03-01
DECISION ON MONDAY
Telegraphers Expect No Ex-
tension of Nine-hour Law.
ARE sANGUINE OF VICTORY
President Perham Tells Interstate
Commerce Commissioners that He
Sees No Good and Sufficient Rea-
son why Law should Not Go Into
Eject on wednesday Next.

tlnal argument m the interstate CON-
merce Commissions hearing OF petitions.
fled by various railroads. for extension Of
the period in which TO. comply with the
nine-hour law. was made yesterday after
noon by President Perham, OF the Order
Of Railway Telegraphers. and Attorney
r. w. Moore, representing the Southern
Railway
Railway tclegraphers present through
out the hearing feel disposed 20 exult over
what they term the favorable attitude or
the commission TO the telegraphers. Deci-
sion by the commission is expected to-
morrow.
Effective on wednesday.
The act goes into effect on Wednesday.
unless extension OF time is granted 10
specific stations The commission will
have hard work to make this decision be-
fore that date. as nearly fifty different
railroads filed petitions - some of them
within the last two or three days. There
Is an enormous mass Of evidence and
testimony 10 be reviewed.
The telegraphers are sanguine of vic
tory. On the other hand. the question Of
enforcing the law on railroads whose
financial statements show that IL might
force insolvency Is a hard nut to crack.
Moore attacked that clause of the pro-
viso 10 the act as covering an entire rail-
way system. as against the Interpretation
placed upon the words particular cIse, %
by the Interstate Commerce Commission
as referring 20 specified stations on the
railroad.
PerhRm Sees No Excuse.
Perham was questioned by the chair
man as 20 whether he thought "any good
and sufficient reason" had been advanced
By tie various petitioning railroads FOR
extension Of the time.
Il do not think So replied Perham,
unless Il was In the ease Of the c. r. &
l.. where it was stated that only one
train day passed certain stations. At
such stations employment OF an addi-
ti0nal operator might impose hardship on
the railroad.
The argument advanced that men are
hard to secure have refuted. II certain
railroads will change their attitude in re-
gard 10 operators. treat them fairly. and
pay good wages. there would be no ques-
ton OF securing capable. experienced men.
Those railroads which are known now
to treat their men unfairly will probably
have TO pay higher salaries than the
others TO induce men to their employ"
IF this act is enforced and no exten-
sion granted" inquired the chairman.
many OF the railroads. il Is said. viii
have 20 close number of their Offices.
VIII this have the effect Of endangering
the travelling public?'
Would Delay Traffic.
NO; it would delay traffic by lengthen-
Ing the blocks"
George r. Peck. representing the Chi
cago, Milwaukee and st. Paul, urged de-
lay. on the ground of the sudden and
unexpected financial condition OF the
country. He said the company had no
desire 10 seek an evasion OF the law. but
It wanted an opportunity TO know, where
it was at
E. w. McKenna. an official OF the road.
said the ST. Paul was in excellent hnan-
cial condition. paying per cent. but II
il were TO receive the blow which the
Southern and some Eastern roads re-
ceived recently. il would not be able to
pay more than 2 per cent.
lie maintained that no greater efficiency
or public safety would be guaranteed by
the employment Of a larger number OF
operators, as required by the law, which,
he said. would cost the company $500. 900
annually.
NJ. S Connors was heard in behalf OF
the Hooking Valley and the roads with
which it is allied. Business depression.
he said. made 1t necessary for the COM
pary to ask for an extension of time
within which 10 comply with the law.
Lumber Case Hearing.
The afternoon session of the hearing on
the Northwestern lumber cases before
Commissioner CockreIl, OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission, brought out what
is evidently one OF the chief contentious Of
the railroads-that Northwestern lumber
men are. seeking 10 secure a hold on the
middle markets and dislodge Southern
long and short leaf pine.
The case is virtually continuation of
the fight which Northwestern lumbermen
are making against the railroads. claim
ing conspiracy to foist exorbitant rates
on their products shipped TO Minneapolis.
st. Paul and other transfer points. Their
claim is that the entire industry In what
is known as the finland empire or the
Northwest will be bankrupted If the pres
ent high rates are allowed in effect