The San Francisco call., 1907-01-03
MAKES REPORT ON
CAR SHORTAGE
Interstate Commission, by
Lane, Tells Reasons and
Suggests Some Remedies
COAL MEN COMBINE

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-The causes
but not the cure for the car short
age in the Northwest and the con-
sequent coal famine in North Dakota
nave been determined by the mem
bers OF the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. Franklin K Lane, who served
as chairman of the investigating COM
mittee, filed his report with the full
commission today and sent 1T to
President Roosevelt Lane says:
1T is fair inference, from all the
testimony, that the real cause of the
coal scarcity in North Dakota was
such an abundance of westbound traf-
nc at the head OF the lakes that cars
were not available, in the congested
state OF that terminal, for the carry
ing OF coal to North Dakota--a COM
paratively short haul for low-class
commodity"
sThe Commission has gained indis-
putabIe proof OF an agreement among
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 combination Is
chargeable with the coal shortage pre-
vafling, nor that the railroads were
party I'm such a way to such con-
spiracy"
The report Of the Commissioner first
ANO@ 80
Dakota and presents the conditions of
distress found to have existed in that
State. The remedies which the Com
missioner purposes to work out include
q plan for car clearing house or car
pool and reciprocal car demurrage.
Financial loss to a large percentage
OF the people OF the Northwest is shown
to have been caused by the failure of
the railroads to prepare for a large
n
In considering the evidence taken
Commissioner Lane says that q plan
for proposed car clearing house or
q car pool among connecting lines is
regarded with much favor. The de-
tails or such a plan have not been
worked out. Car appropriation by car
rfers Is treated at some length, and
the adoption of rule is suggested
fixing minimum of 80 cents a day
during those months of the year when
traffic Is light and increasing this pos
sibly fourfold 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 demanded is known as re-
ciprocal car demurrage.
Lane sums up the conclusion Of the
commissioners in the following:
:, The problem is much deeper and much broader
one In which is involved every factor in rail-
roading, the construction, operation, msinten-
ance and financing OF the railroad The in
aDinty OF the shipper to secure may be
only symptom OF deep-seated and organic
trouble. The real of our car shortage
may lie in the too conservative character OF
the management of the road or in the unfitness
and incompetency of its operating officials. II
may follow from an incomprehension the
part OF the directors Of the full duty imposed
by law on common carrier. 1t may arise out
Of a policy In railroad operation which gives
primary consideration to speculative stock opera
tions.
II may come from an inability TO secure
funds so to ut itself that 1t can discharge its
duty. 1t may follow in a time of exceptional
prosperity from an increase In traffic which
could not entirely have been prevented. 1t
and materials necessary to the proper enlarging
Of the railroads officials
The enactment Of a reciprocal demurrage bill
will not build railroad track, equip, en-
large and simplify terminals, nor transform
incompetent operating officials into frst-class
and in some cases revise the methods of de-
linQuent railroads that they would render
the service which they were created to render.
The need of additional legislation to
reach the seat OF the trouble is shown
by the conclusion of the report, where
IT is said:
II the Interstate Commerce. Commission is
to be vested with power TO make rules under
which the railroads shall be required pen
atty to furnish to shippers this commission
which free interchange OF shall be made,
to require railroads engaging In interstate
commerce to make such rules for their own
protection and provide for their enforcement.