New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-06
Law Permitting Pool
ing Also Recommend
ed by Interstate
Board
Declares in Favor of
Federal Financing
CommissionerM'Chord
Dissents; Advises
Government Oper-
alton or Control
Bv c. w. Gilbert


.,,.e Commerce Commission made a
.,,eial report to-day on the railroad
,i.u,tjon. Il urged that Congress pass
lag, to promote the unifcation Of the
,,nrosds Of the country, If the Presi-
S,,t should not seize them and operate
hem as one system under the author
az he already possesses. Legislation
recommended would permit pooling,
rrwide for government financing and
,or the regulation Of security issues.
With regard to the question Of in
creased freight rates, which the com
mission has before it, the majority re-
port says;
aIn our opinion. the situation does
10, permit of tcmporizing. All ener-
z;,, must be devoted TO bringing the
var 10 a successful conclusion, and
70 that end it is necessary that our
TRANSPORTATION systems be placed and
kept on the plane OF highest efficiency.
Thi, can be secured only through
unihcation Of their operation during
The period Of the war"
mich more interesting than the ma
joH,y report is the dissenting report
a. Commissioner McChord, who thinks
tsa, voluntary operation Of the rail-
,osds ss unit is inadequate, and who
u+es either government operation or
=. least government control. Mr.: Ne;
chord analyzes the chaotic Faiiroae
,;,uation as no one else has. lie points
ont tLst. in a way which is perfectly
rlsrscteristic OF the situation IN
WssbiYotor there are now several dil-
ferent agencies for governmental con-
troll of the railroads. lie writes;
Many Agencies Issue Orders
AT the present time there are sew
,ral Federal agencies authorized by la"
I. issue oders or directions with re-
spsct 10 Transportation. This commlS,
sion bv the car service act, approved
Nav 2e. 1917. was given very broad
powers TO issue summary dlrecuohs
with respect 10 the movement, distribu-
tion. exchange. interchange and return
Of cars. The priority director deslg-
mated BY the President for that puI-
pose under the act approved August ~
1917. is authorized TO direct that trafhc
essential TO the national defence shali
be given priority in transportation, ana
he has made certain orders OF Iha'
character.
"The transportation OF troops and
material OF war, under the amendment
10 the act 20 regulate commerce, ap,
proved August 29, 1915, is required
upon demand Of the President to be
given preference over all other trafhc
In time Of war, and b. direction of the
Army and Navy departments and the
United States Shipping Board prefer
tnce orders have been given for the
transportation Of very large tonnage
Of war materials and supplies Of all
kinds.
"The administrations controlling fuel
and food. 20 which adequate transporta-
tion is. Of course. vital, have taken an
active interest in the movement OF
those commodities through their ap-
pointed agents. Under this diversified
control the carriers are not able 70
meet the requirements of the increas-
ingly heavy tonnage which must be
moved. In consequence, the industries
devoted 10 war purposes and those en-
gagged in their normal business are SUI
fsrng."
That is TO say that the railroads nov
hsye seven different governments
bosses.
As Tor voluntary unifeation by the
railroads themselves. Mr.. McChord says
nat the railroads have had in success
sion five different committees 10 deal
With the transportation situation since
November. 1916. 1t transpired that the
hrst four Of these committees had nc
real authority, although the commis'
SION was advised by the executives that
iheey had been given full power"
Finally. the present so-called Rail
road War Board was created on Aprl
H. 1871, 20 coordinate their opera
tonS m continental railway system.
le, u Was not till November "a thai
NE board began 20 coordinate even th'
Northern and Eastern roads into
single system. And Mr.. McChorC
might have added that the poolini
which was accomplished then was only
halfway measure, for the pooling o.
Earnings was not attempted and M
economical operation as a single sys
TEN is possible without pooling earn
ings. il is not clear, either, from th'
guarded announcement Of the Wa
Board Of November -, that any suci
!oint use Of terminals as will promote
me freest movement Of freight IS II
practice.
Competitive Ideas Still Rule
Competitive ideas still rule IN,
minds Of those who are charged Will
me cooperative use Of the railways o
The country.
~ the Administration has any trans
peTtation policy, as might be supposed
ron President Wilson's suggestion u
ms message that he might later hd
sresS Congress upon the railroads, tn
interstate Commerce Commission u
not aware Of IL. The country rs ap
preaching the time when II mas prom
ised 20 exert its force against Ger
msany on land aud sea, and the utmos
eaAos prevails regarding the transpor
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