The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-12-14
SEES NO DANGER OF
FOOD OR FUEL FAMINE
Exercise of Priority Powers Will Keep
the Country Supplied, Commission
Reports.

WASHINGTON, Dee. l4.-Assurance
that there will be no absolute famlnes
Of food or fuel i'll the United States as
a result OF failure Of the transporta-
tion system adequately TO perform its
functions. is given IN the annual re
port OF the Interstate commerce COM
mission. The commission declares that |
by the exercise Of the priority powers |
provided by congress, orders can and |
will be given which will keep the |
American people supplied with food |
and fuel. Much was said during the |
past winter as to the danger of freez-
inn and famine on account OF failure
adequately to transport fuel and foods,
but history viii record no such calam
itv. - saws the commission.
The report makes il clear, however,
| that the transportation business is not
now and cannot, for the period of the
war, be as usual, but must be main
| tanned on Il war basis designed espe
| ciallv 10 meet war conditions. 1t IS
| stated that the newly created division
of car supply of the commission al
ready has arranged for diScontinuance
Of the use Of opcn-top ears especially
| designed to carry such essential com
modities as fuel and bulk foodstuffs
and ores for any other purposes.
1.-THE commission says that the en-
tire industrial world of America is so
tied up with pressing orders that sub
Stantial additions to the railroad equip
mcnt cannot be hoped for i'll the near
future, but what is available must be
fused in the most scientific way to make
the most of il.
The commission is entirely silent on
the new railroad situation presented
10y the railroads this fall in respect Of
further advances i'll freight rates.
Neither does thc report say anything
about the proposals for large govern
mcnt loans to the railroads.
The report shows that the war is
having a direct effect on the number OF
railroad accidents in the United States
and resultant casualties. Out of GIG
accidents in the United States in which
81 persons were killed and 72l injured
during the last fiscal year, $50 acci-
dents, in which - persons were killed
= and 400 injured, were due to failure
of locomotives. These failures were
due largely to the strain placed on The
/ railroads by the increased activities
caused by the war, both before ana
after this country entered il. Thu
commission says that Unprecedented
operating conditions have made impoS
sible the maintenance of locomotive.
in accordance with peace time stand
ards.
In fact, the commission itself hat
permitted the railroads to relax til,
rigor of some of their inspection rules
as the railroad system would not per
NIT OF withdrawal OF locomotives 10
repairs a. often rs they should he with
drawn. The commission reports prog
ress on the valuation of railroads, bu
states that the task is a big one an,
is necessarily moving slowly
\ recommendation is made that con
2rcss enact legislation To provide moan
ot Furnishing attempts, by intimidation
threats, inducements or otherwise to in
duence testimony before the commits
sion and to punish diSorderIv condue
OF witnesses.
Other recommendations made are:
That a limit of three years be fxe
Is the time within which a carrier ma
bring action to recover any part of il
charges The limit is now two years.
That the commission be authorize
to cooperate with the state railwa
commits ions in regulating rates
That the commission be authorizes
10 the correspondence files of carriers.
That there be legislation governin
the security issues Of railways.
That steel passenger ears be require
and the placing of wood ears betwee
or III front Of steel ears bc prohibite,
That railroads may continue to ow
and operate water lines, despite I'll
prohibition contained in the Panan
canal act, in eases where the publ
will be served thereby.
That the standardization of railroa
operating rules he required
That a federal anti-trespasSing az
so far as railroad tracks and propert
be concerned, bc passed.
The commission reports a material i
crease in the volume OF the work don
during the year.