Norwich bulletin., 1916-03-07
FreightCOngestiOIl
 On Eastern Roads
DISCUSSED BEFORE IN INTER. STATE COMMERCE COMMISSION
REMEDIES SUGGESTED
Proposition to Cut Down Free Storage
 Time Allowed-Another to Cut Of
 Shipments to New York for Export.

Washington. March 6.-Reason for tne freight congestion which has tied up eastern trunk line railroads despite their restrictions on export traffic and some of the remedies which may be used to correct this condition were discussed today before the Interstate Commerce Commission by representa- uves of the interested carriers. shin Pers and receivers of freight
 SeaPorts Affected.
 Although the discussion dealt all most exclusively with conditions ar New York. it was pointed out that Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore ana other seapOrts probably would be af- tected by any changes made in the rules and regulations of carriers. Tho hearing, or conference. will continue tomorrow.
 The railroad representatives offered resolution for the consideration of or the commission proposing to cut down the free storage time allowed on freight in terminals and increase the demurrage charges on cars not un- loaded after a fixed period of free time allowed for this purpose. The shippers and receivers of freight op- posed this plan in a resolution declar- ing it to be their belief that such measures would not relieve congestion. but would add burdens to the public.
 Many Reasons Assigned. Many reasons were assigned for the | bling up of freight in the seaboari cities. but there was no agreement on \ this point The large export traffic | the desire of the carriers and others | 10 obtain large supplies Of coal in fear that there may be a coal strike | next month and the lack of sufficient | track facilities around New York and i of lighters in New York harbor around 1 New York and of lighters in New York harbor were said to be contrib 1 uting causes.
 l, Howard EIIiotFs Views. ! Howard Elliott. of the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad. ex- pressed the opinion that the great in crease in buying throughout the ter ritcry of the New Haven road, the de- mand for raw materials and foodsturfs there and the desire of the road itself 10 get plenty of coal had much to do with a situation on its lines which he said had almost reached the point of strangulation.
 R. IT. Large, coal agent of the Penn sylvania railroad. declared that at Perth AmbOy. V. J., the Pennsylvania from 5000 to 1000 cars of coal. when the normal number there was only 2- 800 cars He said the PennsylvanIa ! proposed to file tariffs with the com mission reducing the free time allow ance or such shipments and increas S.
 ing the demurrage charges.
 Blamed the Railroads.
 A. F. Mack of the United States Steel Products cou~any which han ? dies the export business of the United States Steel Corporation. blamed the
 carriers themselves for the conditions
 at New York He said they needed better track facilities more lighters r and an improved system. Some of the cars of steel shipped from Pitts
 burEh last October. he asserted. had
 not yet reached tidewater at New 2 York He said his company should l have on hand at New York for ship. r ment at all times 900 tons. but tha' l now it had there only 5000 tons. al. thouCh at the end Of December ft hat on its way there abOut ITO. GOO tonl = and in the last three months had ship, e ped about 117OgN tons more
 Would Shut Of Export Shipments. . Mir. Mack said that in his opinioI q the only way to correct existing con n ditions was to shut off all source O
 supply for New York in export ship
 ments. Thos should be done" h. l. said. until the railroads can clean UT ,- They have had eubarCoes for month d and they have done no good whatevel - We've got 10 drive the knife deep"
 Answering suggestions that the lac
 of ships was responsible for the con l. gestion- Mir. Mack produced figure ,f from New York custom house shovfn Ie that 4.235 vessels cleared from Ney n York in 1914 and 4.as7 In 1915. He sai
 his comnany had received thousand
 of complaints from foreign buyers an m that those who complained that the l. were driven tO American markets nO' ,h by war conditions would certainly g or elsewhere to buy when they could
 Only 5 Per Cent. War Munitions.
 Mir. Elliott had declared that of tt Is New Haven's total freight tonnage q ;1 shown by recent figures. only fiy .i4 per cent. was in war munitions. 1T
 Mack also expressed the opinion tn;
 war munition traffi~ was a small pa . If the whole that flowed into Ne - = York.