Evening journal., 1916-03-10
chesapeake BOAT
PROBLEM Discussed
Baltimore Business Men
Petition |. c. c. for Ex-
tension of Time
SEEMS TO BE
UP TO THE PENNSY

WASHINGTON, March 10 Repre-
sentatives of commercial organiza-
tions and shippers of Baltimore con-
ferred yesterday with Commissioner
Clements. Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission to extend the effective
date of its order directing the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company TO divorce
itself from its Chesapeake Bay lines.
Charles - Falconer, president, and
A. q. Beck. traffic manager and
counsel. respectively OF the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers Associa-
tion. presented a petition praying for
an extension OF time of one year, OF
the order of the commission The pc
tiiion recited that the suspension Of
operation of the lines will irreparably
iniurc the convenience and commerce
of the merchants and shippers Of Bal
timore and the Eastern Shore; that
efforts have been made to permit the
ACQUISITION Of these divorced lines by
Independent capital, but that the
limited time has prevented a mate
realization of these efforts: that it is
impossible at this time or at any
time that can be fOrcsecn i'm the near
future TO secure adequate steamers,
10 take the place of those at pres
ant owned 10y the Pennsylvania Rail-
Dad
The petition also claims that the ab.
senco OF transportation facilities has
caused aud is causing the agricultwists
upon the Eastern Shore of Maryland,
and upon whom the city of Baltimore
must depend in large measure FOR
food-iuls. 20 either discourage or dis
continue arrangements for their produc'
fion: that the order of the commission.
becoming effective ON April J. at the
height of the unsettled conditions and
cNorbiiaut values in the maritime field.
renders mnttmctiyc the expenditure of
aapital IN transportation facilities upon
Which only limited return could be
made under normal conditions: That the
associatior viii encourage negotiations,
between the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad and
prospective iuNcsi ors-pnd that am eN
tension of time will not operate in any
manner against the sale of these prop
critics hv the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company during the period of such cN
tended time, but that they may be dis
posed of at any time 10 am independent
purchaser or purchasers.
W. VI Rector. president of the Balti-
more Fruit and Produce Association and
Baltimore Egg Exchange. presented a
statement indorsing the petition of the
Merchants and Manufacturers Associa-
iior.
Statements along the lines OF the
petition were made by Mr. Falconer.
Mr. Beck. Walter Frey, OF Frey and
& Ill
Miller and Company and others,
strongly urging the extension.
Commissioner Clements seemed
mucn impressed with the seriousness
Of the situation and intimated that
while the commission would undoubt-
edly do whatever il lawfully could do
70 aid tho attitude of the railroad
had not been disclosed
Commissioner Clements said he
would lay the whole matter before
the whole commission He asked
FOR the opinion of those attending /
the conference as to the advisable |
iiy OF reopcnng the whole case and /,
try Il over again on It's merits and /
in the iight of the new conditions. /
Mr. Falconer and Mr.. Beck informed
him that the Merchants and Manu-
facturers' Association had formally
decided that they did not want the
case reopened but only the effective
date extended on the showing made.
and This was acquiesccd i'm by others
present
10 is believed that Commissioner
Clements viii call the railroads at
fert|Cn 10 the petition filed or call
Oh the railroad FOR a statement of
some kind 10 clear up the situation.