The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-20
cAR SHORTAGE IN TEE VEST.
senator HansbrOugh submit a Bill 10 the
President 10 solve the Problem.

WAsHINoToN. Dec. 1v-From present in
locations the administrator will make no
Recommendation to Congress mat a law
be passed preventing as far as possible the
recurrence of conditions that exist as a
result OF the shortage in freight cars until
the Interstate Commerce Commission has
completed its inquiry to ascertain the causes
of the present trouble. Two visitors 10 the
White House to-day discussed the subject
with President Roosevelt. One OF them
was Senator HansbrOugh of North Dakota
and the other President Stickney OF the
Chicago Great Western Railroad Company.
/ senator Hansbrough submitted To the
Pre,iient the provisions Of a bill which
! he behaves Cffers "A preventative OF car
shortages ana other disturbances In the
railroad world. President StIckney V
| understood TO nave told the President mat
in the existing emergency the Shippers
were as much 10 blame rs the carriers and
that the most potent factor in the car
famine was the inadequate terminal facll-
ties AT the large railroad centres. b
| bill that will I've proposed by Senator Hans
brough in the event that it meets with
the arprovaI of the members of the Inter-
site Commerce Commission IL substan-
tally a. follows:
First L. will authorize the Interstate
Commerce Commission to make investiga-
tions relative TO the equipment capacity
under stress of extraordinary require
ments Of all interstate railways, with a view
to determining what steps should be taken
10 require the carrier To supply equipment
when needed.
second II will authorize the commission
to require shippers holding cars in demur-
r,.r, a., pnlnuI and TplpAap such ca rs lDOn
twenty-four hours notice.
Third 1t will he made a m~isdemeanor
for common carriers to compel tralnhnen
to move or attempt 10 move trains from
one point to another containing tonnage IN
excess of the registered tonnage capacity
of engines used on such trains.
FOURTH will authorize the Interstate
Commerce Commission 10 require the tenn
porary Use of idle equipment OF one me 10
supplement overtaNed equipment OF an.
other line under terms of rental 10 be agreed
upon between the lines interested, ana en-
power the commission to fix terms in case
Of disagreement between carriers.
After senator Hansbrough left the
White House he went 10 the Offices Of the
.Commission, where he had a conference
with Chairman kna PIP. The two went
over the measure IA outlined above. Chair-
man Knapp did not commit himself 10 the
plan, but promised to look into II.
A. an Offset TO the measure submltted
TO the President by senator Hansbrou 81
these Al ggestionS were made in an offlciaI
quarter to-day: Ia IA method OF accumu'
lated demp rage be fixed IN the statutes
This would be aimed at shippers who are
responsible for the delays in unloading
cars. Secondly, that car clearing houses o'
established throu gh which the Interstate
Commerce commission could keep TRACK
of the equipment of the carriers.
IL was further suggested that the prob
lem might be solved If a holding companN
were organized, which should supply rolling
stock to the railroads. The statement wa
made hy an official to-day that in Franc
a premium is offered for prompt unloading
of cars. For example, "A liberal dlscoun
on the transportation rate IL allo wed II IN
car is unloaded prom pity on arrival. Thu
plan, it was suggested, might Oe tnei II
this country.
ST.. LoUis, Dec. le.-The present ca
famine il due to the inability of car manu-
f~acturers to meet the demands or the rall
roads, according to railroad men wh'
testified before Interstate Com
missioner Prouty to-day.
A. b.. Starr, general superintendent q
freight traffic OF the Pennsylvania lines
: and Benjamin Mexican, manager OF tn
J Vandalia, were the principal Witnesses.
Mr.. Starr said he favored a law tha
> would require railroads 70 provide edhiJ
' ment sufficient 70 meet its trafhc need
THAT il the only way, ! believe, that tn
question can be solved" he declared
Naturally" he said, the railroads hay
always felt that each year might witne'
a sl~ackening in our national prosperity
Instead business has increased and "
nave been unprepaTed 10 meet the heaV
requirements of shippers
Mr.. Starr testified that there are in opera
ton at present in the United States I 800 on
freight cars. About 1900 of these mu'
be rebuilt every year.
The P~ennsylvania company has 200 %
I cars idle for want Of men to repair them
he said. 1T il almost impossible for I
to get enough labor. This probably
8 true of the manufacturers. ] understan'
A however, that the car companies are a
v ranging to increase their output so p'