The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1916-03-31

| washington, March 31.-II the war
! and war demand FOR American prod
ucts shall continue undated into the
| autumn, there is every reason to fear
| that the railroads will face the hard
| est pressure for transportation serv-
ice that has ever been imposed Oh
them
The Interstate Commerce Commits
siOns initiation of cooperation with
the railroads, looking to relieving the
freight congestion, was inspired by
reports from both shippers and rail
roads which suggested the imm;ncncc
OF real catastrophe unless prevent
i've measures are taken early.
Underneath the surface, there is
fear of political consequences the
coming fall. The industrial East has
so largely monopolized the capacity
0f the railroads that the grain-gr0wing
states OF the West are in danger Of
Ceing unable to market their products.
Attitude Of West.
The West has not viewed with any
90 much satisfaction the spectacle OF
he East making huge profits out OF
manufacturing war supplies If war
supplies, insistent on getting first to
market, should absorb all the carry
ng capacity of the railroads, and shut
out the Western business, it is consid-
red very certain that a tremendous
low would be projected
1t is desired to avoid any such dan
ger. Some time ago the Interstate
Commerce Commission called in
humber of railroad men to Washing
on to discuss this freight congestion.
Che railroad people were particularly
anxious to make it very apparent that
hey were NOT to blame. There was
good deal of conversation about the
ack of shipping TO take cargoes away
ron Eastern iFoats.
The railroad people pointed out that
warehouses; up and down the Atlantic |
'oast are all filed and that cars can
lot be unloaded because there is no !
Dlace to put their contents.
Fear of New Duties.
After hearing a good deal OF this |
Kind Of testimony, the commission in |
Heated that it was more concerned |
about remedies than causes. It con- !
5iderS the proposition mainly one of |
physical operation, in which it is
feared the failure OF the railroads to
cooperate among themselves and with
heir shippers has accentuated unfor-
innate conditions
There is a very genuine fear that
his situation may result i'll the imDosi-
ion Of new duties upon the Interstate
commerce Commission, requiring it
o supervise physical operation Of the
'ailroads, at a time when it has
neither the experience nor The m2chin-
Try with which to do this effectively.
One hears among members Of Con
;ress good deal of intimation that
aore rigorous government control
,ught to be exercised unless condi-
ions very soon improve
Would Enlarge Commission.
1t can pc said with the best of au, ]
hority. that the Interstate commerce {
Commission does not want to be +;
lothed with power over the physical
peTation of railroads unless the com;
lission's membership is increased {
nd provision is made in the law for !
very distinct distribution OF func- c
ions among srours OF the commas t
'oners. G
Thus. speaking for the commission i
Clements, who in length f
service is the veteran of that body, t
trongly urged that two more commits
toner's be authorized, bringing the
to nine, and that the COM h
lission be permitted to distribute its d
motions in such manner that a group c