New-York tribune., 1907-01-18
CAR SHORTAGE REMEDY.
ANOTHER MESSAGE.
The President WiU Ask Increased
PozCers for Commerce Commission.
IFrom The Tribune Rureau1


Washington, Jan. 17-President Roosevelt will
soon send to Congress a special message urging
the passage Of legislation to increase the powers
Of the Interstate Commerce Commission. The
message will accompany the draft Of a bill to
be formulated by Chairman Knapp of the Com
mission. acting under executive instructions.
Additional powers should be given to the Com
mission. the President believes. so that emergen-
cies like the present car shortage IN the North
west can be promptly and effectively handled
by the federal authorities
The Presidents decision to send a special mes
sage TO Congress followed long conference at
the White House this afternoon, attended by
several members of the Interstate Commerce
Reciprocal Demurrage Convention. which re-
Gently met in Chicago. These were ]. A. Van
Hoose, Of Birmingham. Ala; George II. Erner-
son. of Hoquiam, Wash; Donald A Sage, of
Chicago, and ]. E. Defenbaugh. of Seattle. The
conference really the continuation Of a con-
sultation the President had yesterday with
Chairman Knapp and the executive committee
OF the demurrage convention. who called 10 pre-
sent a memorial asking his aid in obtaining
legislation 10 impose penalties the railroads
for derelictions their part severe
as those the roads now exact from ship
pers and consignees for failure unload
cars in their possession. AT yesterdays
conference the charge was made that the failure
OF the railroad companies 10 furnish when
needed and TO move them with reasonable speed
had caused untold loss TO many industries and
the main cause for the running of hundreds
of mills and mines on half time. The President
was informed that more than 800 cars. loaded
with coal, are held UP IN Minneapolis because
the railroad companies and the shipper. q coal
company of Pittsburg had become involved in
q squabble over demurrage. All this coal, the
President was informed. was consigned to the
far Northwest. the very districts which are now
literally freezing for lack Of fuel The President
was also assured by members OF the demurrage
conventions executive committee that there
were great numbers OF loaded coal cars similarly
detained in Chicago.
The President indicated his interest in the
subject by at once instructing the II.Srstate
Commerce Commission to make inquiries to
ascertain the truth of the charges. intimating
that if the statements were true. he would take
measures TO move the cars to their proper des-
tinations If possible to do under the law
He instructed Chairman Knapp to return to his
Office at o'clock to-day, and suggested that
committee be appointed by the Demurrage Con-
vention to meet them there. and the four men
named above were thereupoH appointed and at
tended the conference.
At the meeting to-day Chairman Knapp and
Commissioners Harlan, Clements and Clark
made brief addresses. and the four representa-
tives of tho Demurrsge Convention were heard
The speech mada by Chairman Knapp in which
he enumerated the reasons why the Interstate
Commerce Commission should have power to
correct existing evils, made deep impression
and at its conclusion the President instructed
him to prepare report on the subjects taken
up and later to draft bill for submission to
Congress. The President added that he would
send a special message TO Congress with the
bill when it was prepared, and in the discussion
that followed express a the hope that the meas
ure would pass at the present session and be-
come a law within few months, perhaps by
the first of the next fiscal year. After the con-
ference Chairman Knapp announced that he
would hand to the President. probably to-mor-
row the report he requested relating TO the sub
Iects brought up by the COMMITTEES from the Re-
cjprocal Demurrage Convention.
The Interstate Commerce Commissioners were
not willing tonight to be quoted but unomclally
thew said the recommendations to the President
Will include some form of reciprocal demurrage,
so that the carrier may be penalized for delay
IN moving as well the consignee for delay IN
unloading cars and probably some suggestions
for the interchange OF cars by railroads to meet
extraordinary demands in one section but not
existing in another