Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-09-08
SOUTHERN PACIFIC
INVITED TO ANSWER
Public Service Commission
Asks Company to Explain
Cause Of Car Shortage

September 20 has been set by the
state public service commission as the
date when the Southern Pacific Rail
way company will be asked to explain
why it has failed to supply sufficient
cars to meet the needs of Oregon ship
pers.
The hearing will be held in Portland.
Notice of the commission S intention
to make as thorough probe of the ear
shortage as the scope of its authority
will permit was sent to all interested
parties yesterday, including President
Sproule of the Southern Pacific, who is
urged to be present at the hearing
The purpose of the investigation is
two-fold 1t is intended to provide an
opening for the making of q formal
complaint to the interstate commerce
commission, and the issuance of an or
der by the commission relative to the
shortage of cars for intrastate ship
ments.
There is no law limiting the scope
of the inquiry that can be made by the
commission in the matter, but the com
mission is pOwerless to issue an order
compelling the company to furnish ears
for interstate shipments. 1t can only
file formal complaint with the inter
state commerce commission. The results
of the proposed hearing will serve as a
basis for such complaint.
Among the complaints received of
late by the public service commission
are several from shippers who have or
dered cars for intrastate shipments. The
commission has jurisdiction in this.
The ear shortage on the Southern
Pacific north of Ashland has today
heached total of more than 1900 ears.
So far as is known at the office of the
public service commission, the Southern
Pacific is the only railroad in Oregon
which is failing to keep the shippers on
its lines supplied with sufficient ears
to meet their needs. The Southern Pa
cific is serving its patrons in all other
states of its territory except Oregon.
What was thought at first to be moth
ing more than a temporary inconven-
fence has become most serious prob
lem for many of the mills and manu-
featuring concerns in Oregon. A num-
ber of them declare that failure to
secure cars at once will force them into
the hands of receiver. Others have
been compelled to close down, throwing
their men out of employment. Orders
are being cancelled daily because of the
inability to deliver.
One instance in which the failure to
obtain cars worked double hardship is
that of the Ewana Box factory of Kla-
math Falls which was unable to deliver
large order of shocks to cantaloupe
growers in California. The fruit rot
ted on the ground while the shocks
waited on the company's platform at
klamath Falls for cars.
Orders for lumber products placed
with Oregon concerns have been can
celled and tken to Washington concerns.
and the products have been left on the
hands of the Oregon manufacturers.
The ear shortage is more acute in the
Willamette valley than elsewhere. Hard
ly shipper in the valley has been able
to obtain cars ordered from the South
ern Pacific.
The public service commission has in
cluded in its order for the hearing of
September 90 list of points which it is
desired to have the Southern Pacific
company clear up at that time. There
is only one needs investigating and
answering and that Is will you provide
more carsi