The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-12-24
WANT STATES TO
KEEP HANDS
OFF,
That is What Commissioner
Clark Says Relative to the
Car Shortage Matter.

tas, Montana, Idaho, Washington and
Oregon, and in the states Of the South
west-in fact, everywhere in the car
shortage zone-there are signs that
state legislatures, which are to meet
early in January, purpose giving care.
full attention to the shortage question,
with view to enacting laws. It is
the opinion of the interstate commits
sion that such action will not bring
relief, and that it ought not to be
taken. The commission holds that the
only effective remedy lies in congress,
to which 1t will make an appeal with
executive backing in the form of a
special message, and it expresses the
hope that the state legislatures will,
to use slang expression, keep of
the grass"
With view to obtaining an express
sion of opinion from the commission,
today had talk with E. E. Clark,
one Of its members. In answer to the
question, What can the legislatures
of Minnesota, the Dakotas and Mon
tana do this winter to help the inter-
state commerce commission relieve the
cah' shortage situation?" Mr.. Clark
replied:
State legislatures ought not to do
anything. My fear is that any indie
pendent action on the part of state au-
thorities will only make very bad
situation worse. Even congress can
give no help which will be effective in
time to relieve the present crisis.
I'm my opinion the thing to do now
is to leave the commission to handle
the case as best it can under it's pres
ent authority. We can use moral sua-
sion with the railroads, and we are
doing that.
so far as the future is concerned
/ believe that steps will be taken to
prevent a recurrence of the shortage
trouble. The remedy, as see it, rests
primarily with congress, and not with
state legislatures. l have advised con-
gressmen in formal hearings only re-
Gently that broader legislation may
we'll be enacted to give the commission
more comprehensive grasp. l have
told them that law should be made
giving the commission pretty thorough
control of the conditions under which
freight cars may be used. Such legis-
lation would provide that the commits
sion may make rules covering the dis
tribution by the railroads of cars to
shippers, and covering also the obliga-
lions which the shippers shall be under
in their use of cars thus furnished.
The legislation should give the COM
mission power to regulate demurrage
charges.
THAT there are too few cars for the
needs of the country cannot be ques-
toned. But that is not the entire
cause of the difficulty. The shippers
themselves-the very men who are
making the most stir about the car
shortag to 1t in no small
degree. A more prompt unloading Of
cars would help greatly"
Representative Marshall of North
Dakota, who went home to help the
commission gather evidence for the
Minneapolis hearing, favors a recip-
rocal demurrage bill, and will probably
be ready to introduce one after the
holiday recess. He had this in mind
before going west, as noted in this
correspondence. Mr.. Marshall is maxi
ing study of the entire question, and
the bill which he will offer will be
entitled to respectful hearing.
While Mr.. Marshall has been doing
good work at home for the past ten
days, Senators Hansborough and Nc
Cumber, more especially the former,
have been keeping the issues alive IN
Washington. Mr.. Hansbrough has been
devoting his entire time to it for
more than a week, and has been in
almost daily consultation with the
president, who is relying on him for
practical suggestions. There will also
be Hansbrough car shortage bill
after the holidays. 1t is possible that
Mr.. McCumber may also introduce d
bill as also one or both of the senators
from South Dakota. The interese of the
southwest, and of the far northwest,
has been stimulated in the shortage
question, and bills from those quarters
may be expected. Altogether it is
more than likely that more than
dozen bills, all looking in the same
direction, will be before congress early
in January, and that out of the multi
tude of suggestions they will contain
something will be found which will
pass both houses.
In the meantime it is the intention
of the interstate commerce commission
to make a formal report of the condi-
lions as disclosed through the hearings
in Minneapolis, Chicago, st. Louis,
Kansas City and Pacific coast points,
and should that report seem to justify
a stirring message from the president,
such a message will be forthcoming.
Indeed, it is very probable that the
MISSIONS formal report. but will send
his message early in January, impelled
to that course by the fact that con-
gress will adjourn in March and there
fore will not have great deal of time
at its disposal.
All of the suggestions thus far made
whether by republican members of the
two houses from northern states or
by democratic members from the south
and southwest, contemplate further
increase of the federal authority by
the railroad rate law, thus
again, If further demon
is needed, that public opinion
will not long halt to consider the Old
doctrine of states rights when central
lied power will give needed relief.
The utter inability of the states, acting