Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-03
FIND CAUSE
FOR FAMINE
BUT NO CURE
Reasons for Shortage
Of { arS Given
Commissioner Franklin X. Lane Files
Report with Interstate Commerce
Commission of Investi-
cations
By Associated Press.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.--The causes,
but not the cure, for the car shortage
in the northwest and the consequent
coal famine in North Dakota have been
determined by the members of the in
terstate commerce commission partici-
pating in the recent hearings at Chi
cago and Minneapolis.
Franklin K. Lane, who served as
chairman of the investigation commit
tee, today filed his report with the full
Roosevelt, who ordered the inquiry. He
finds:
'It is fair inference from all the
testimony that the real cause of the
coal scarcity in North Dakota was such
an abundance of westbound traffic at
the head of the lakes that cars were
not available in the congested state of
that terminal for the carrying of coal
to North Dakota-a comparatively short
haul for low class commodity
In his letter of transmission to the
president Mr.. Lane says the report will
be followed in due course by the spe-
Cldl Une commas
sion as whole as to whatever legis-
lation, If any, may be deemed advis-
able.
Finds Evidence of Trust
Referring to the report that the coal
shortage was due to the presence of a
trust or combination between dealers
in COAL which fixed prices in the north
west and refused to sell to outsiders"
and "irregulars," the report says:
The commission has gained indisput-
able proof of an agreement between
coal dealers to maintain prices and to
boycott all who did not so agree, but
there is no evidence at all justifying
the contention that this combinat tion is
chargeable with the coal shortage pre-
vailing, nor that the railroads were
party in such a way to such a con-
spiracy."
In considering the evidence taken
Commissioner Lane says that a plan for
proposed car clearing house or cal
pool between connecting lines Is re.
garded with much favor The details
of such plan have not been worked
out.
Car appropria ton between carriers is
treated at some length, and the adoption
of rule is suggested fixing a minimum
of so cents a day during eight months
| of the year, when traffic is light and
increasing this possibility four fold
during the latter half of the year, when
cars are most needed.
The most generally advocated remedy
for the failure of carriers to furnish
cars when demand is known is re-
ciprocal car demurrage.
The commissioner says this plan alone
would not overcome the transporta-
tion difficulties if the measure merely
provided for punishment of the railroad
for non-placing of cars or non-move-
ment thereof.
In summing up his report Mr.. Lane
says the real cause of car shortage may
lie in the too conservative character of
the management of the road, or in the
unfitness and incompetency of its ope-
rating officials.
The need for additional legislation
to reach the seat of the trouble is
shown by the conclusion of the report,
where it is said
IF the interstate commerce commits
sion is to be vested with power to
make rules under which railroads
shall be required on penalty to furnish
cars to shippers this commission
should also be empowered to make
rules under which free Interchange Of
cars shall be made or to require rail-
roads engaging in interstate COM
merce to make such rules for their own
protection and provide for their en-
fOrcement ~