New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-24
Safety Appliances Costly.

Safety Appliances Costly.
Before submitting 10 cross examination
the railroad president finished explaining
the rs statistical tables and charts which
he had introduced the day before as Has
trative Of his argument. Among the O.
hlbits gone over yesterday were the pres
ent wage scales of every one Of the fifty
two railroads involved in the controversy.
Exhibit 20 presented an estimate OF the
cost to the railroads Of compliance with
the present legislation regarding safety
appliances on locomotives and cars.
The railroads 90 not take exception 10
the safety appliances as provided for by
Congress" Mr.. Worthlngton explained.
THE exhibit is made solely for the pgr-
pose OF advising the board that there will
be an approximate expenditure Of some
thing over 100000 during the years = %
10 1915. Inclusive on this account. which
naturally goes into the expenses o; the
railroads"
do YOU believe It Is impossible" asked
Commissioner Frederick y. Judsou, "to
* uniform rule for overtime. tcrmI"al
delays. etc, tor all the roads
Il do" said Mr. Worthington because
OF varying conditions on the Inherent
roads
Mr. WorthIngton took pains, where an
opportunity offered. 10 'iolly' Mr. Stone
and his opponents. It was at the very
beginning OF the cross.eyaminaton that
he said:
IT have no objection 10 union orgdniza-
ton. think It produces very good re-
suits. / think tho Brotherhood OF Loco
motive Engineers Is a very good example.
do not think there is a better organi-
cation In the country than Your own. with
all due difference 10 you
4 do not take the credit for it, replied
Mr. Stone. though | take the compli-
ment"
The men deserve it, whether you take
Il or not" remarked tho witness. "@
upon the engineers clustered u % .Jv
Of their chief
Mr. Wortbngton had made tho point
that with a standardization OF wages and
conditions Of employment for engineers
the small lines would suffer a marked In
crease OF operating expenses. Mr.. Stone
TOOK up tue point, ASKING
lis II not fact. Mr.. Worthington that
some of these small lines are held and
operated at loss to prevent invasion OF
territory by other competing lines"
Il suppose that Is true" replied the
railroad executive. in the cases Of some
OF the larger lines. but you must remcm-
Der there are a lot of us who hay" not
any parent company to hang to-.
Some Branches Poor investments.
"Is It not Il fact" persisted Mr. stone.
that a good share Of these small lines
that arc running on the debit Side Of the
column have parent lines 10 hang on to-
II presume that is true admitted Mr..
Worthington. Yet it is pretty poor In
vestmcnt II he branch line will not pay
per SO. Sometimes they will trlng sdiii-
Client traffic TO the main line SO the main
line can afford to carry them but a main
line OF railroad that loads itself up w!lh
n lot OF branch lines that do not pay per
SO has got a pretty poor investment
But they do exist 10 prevent am inva-
sion OF traffic territory
II won't deny that the condition does
exist, bu. would not say that ii had any
general application 10 the smaller lines.
Oscar S. Straus, chairman Of the arbi-
tration commission, made the announce
ment when Mr.. Stone had finished his
cross-examInation that. rs two member,
OF the commission would have to leave
town at the end of the week, Il Would
greatly expedite the case II the eXamina-
ton OF all witnesses were completed by
that time. Counsel for the railroads
agreed 10 cut down his list OF witnesses.