The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-16
CAR SHORTAGE IN THE WEST.
PRESIDENT MAY SEND A MESSAGE
TO CONGRESS
Urging mat Authority ne Given The inter-
state Commerce Commission 90 Deal
with M Subject In q Forcefui way
n Three Railroads Deny Any Shortage.


state Commerce Commlssi0n % Deal
with the Subject I'm a Forcefui way
q Three Railroads Deny Any shortage
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-There Is reason
70 believe that President Roosevelt will
soon send a message to Congress calling
the attention of that body to the distress
created in certain psrts of the country by
the shortage in the supply Of cars and REQ
ommending that the authority be conferred
on the Interstate Commerce Commission to
deal in n ~forceful way with the railroads in
lust such emergencies as exist to-day. A
report was current to-day that the Presi-
dent might suggest that a Law be enacted
directing the commission to take charge
Of the operation Of he railroads in the
event of conditions arising with which the
carriers were unable to cope.
Il was asserted hat the President had
asked the commission to frame a measure
along these lines, but one member OF the
body denied tonight that any such COM
munication had been received from the
President. That some legislation should
he enacted that will enable the commission
TO deal with such questions as car shortage
is, however, the opinion Of nearly every
member Of the commission.
Three replies were received at the Office
of the commission to-day to the identical
telegram sent to several railroad presidents
urging that everything possible be done to
bring to an end the present car famine.
George b. Harris. president Of the Chicago.
Burlington and Quincy, notified the Commits
sion that his road would endeavor to COM
ply and furnish prompt and satisfactory
service" His despatch continues:
There has been no general or ~protracted
shortage OF cars or condition OF traffic on
the Burlington road, though it is true that
every year there is some car shortage
and some congestion u to the fact that
shippers, especially Of coal, nave little or
no provision in the way OF storage and
always decline to anticipate their ORDERS,
consequently there is a general demand
for coal at the first real cold weather. We
nave been able TO transport coa for all
our customers with reasonable prompt
ness and to do something in the way of
furnishing cars n transporting coal for
other railroads. If there is a specific COM
plant on the Burl ington road at present IL
has not been made known to the officers
of this company, and il the commission
has received any complaint as to our failure
to transport coal on the Burlington we
will be obliged II You will give us the details
and we will & uarantee prompt relief"
The vice president of the Minneapolis,
st. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway Com
pany wired as follows:
There is no blockade OF freight or shcst-
age Of cars on our lines west Of Minneapolis.
except what 10 due to bad billiards. in the
last few days. You can rest assured we
would exert every effort possible to relieve
any suffering that may be on our line
Marvin Hughitt, president of the Chicago
and Northwestern. said in his telegram:
Il have your telegram Of the 14th, in
which you call attention to a shortage of
fuel in the Northwest and state that you are
receiving complaints OF failure on the part
of the railway companies 70 furnish cars
for the transportation Of fuel and other
accessories Of life.
THE Chicago and Northwe is not
failing at this time nor has IL at any time
failed to furnish cars and to move them
with reasonable promptness, both for fuel
n other commodities, and IL there Is
suffering for lack of any commodity at
stations tributary TO its lines let me assure
YOU that il is not due to failure on the part
Of this company TO discharge its full duty
in this respect. have during the last few
weeks been in frequent communication
on this subject. The reports this morning
indicate a good supply Of fuel at all sta
tons on the line Of this company, espe-
cially in Minnesota and South Dakota
Commissioners Franklin X. lane left
Washington tonight for Minneapolis, where
he will hold hearings next Monday, Tuesday
and Wednesday in the investigation of the
car shortage In the West. He will then go
70 Chicago, st. Louis n Kansas City
on the same investigation.