The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-12-08
RAILROADS PLAYING
AN IMPORTANT PART
IN WAR PREPARATION
Interstate Commerce Commission Gives
No Specific Words of Praise But
Communication Is Implied.

Americas railroads have played in pr
pairing the nation for war was related
Congress to-day in the annual report {
the interstate commerce commission
While struggling under unusual con
mercial demands, the commission ea
planned, the railroads were forced sud
denly to transport great numbers Q
troops and quantities of cantonment ma
terials. The giant task was accom-
plisbed successfully, but only by coop
Grafton of the roads among themselve
and with the commerce commission.
The commission gave no specific word
of praise for the railroads, but common
dation was implied.
Looking ahead, the commission see
that it is necessary to develop to great
err extent the principle of priority TO
transportation of commodities essentia
to the conduct of the war, and predicts
broader action of this sort in the neal
future"
Mainly through new powers over cal
service, SAYS the commission, it has beer
able to develop traffic cooperation be
| tween roads in the most economic use OF
| freight cars. Attention is called to the
Esch car service act of last May, which
some commissioners have said they be-
| lieve conveys adequate power to the
commission to virtually assume manage
ment of the roads.
| This law gives authority whenever
the commission shall be of the opinion
that necessity exists for immediate ac-
ton = to suspend the operation of
any or all rules, regulations or prac-
tices then established with respect to
car service for such time as may be de-
termined by the commission, and also
authority to make such just and reason.
able directions with respect to car sery-
ice during such time as in its opinion
will best promote car service in the in
terests of the public and the commerce of
the people"
Commenting on the need for better
utilization of freight cars, the commits
sion said:
"The cooperation of the shippers and
carriers is worthy of especial note. The
volume of business being offered to the
carriers for transportation materially ex-
ceeds the assimilating ability of the
transportation instrumentalities. Owing
to the demand upon car and locomotive
building plants for equipment for use
abroad, both by our own forces and by
our allies, and to the unprecedented diff
ficulty of securing labor and material, it
is impossible at the present time for
these plants to do much more than re-
place the equipment worn out in the
service in the United States. 1t is APP
parent that the solution of the car serv-
ice problem until such time as additional
and facilities can be provided
lies in securing the maximum use of
those already existing"
Recommendation for legislation were
submitted as follows:
That appropriate provision be made
for punishment of any attempt, by in.
threats, inducements, or 9th
erwise, to influence the testimony of any
witness before the commission or to de
ter him from testifying; as also for pun.
shment of misbehavior, disorderly CON
tuct. or contumaey, in or about any pro-
'eeding before the commission.
That the Congress fix limit of three |
years within which carrier subject to !
he act to regulate commerce NAV bring
action for recovery of any part of its |
20 as to provide that if the carrier be- |
gins such action after expiration of the :
,wo-year limit now prescribed in that (
section, or within 90 days before such |
expiration, complaint against the car
Ter for the recovery of damages may be /
lied with the commission within 90 DAYS
lfter such action shall have been begun
~ the carrier, and not after.
THAT without abdication of any fed
raj authority to finally control ques-
ions affecting interstate and foreign
commerce, the commission be expressly |.
authorized to cooperate with state com
MISSIONS in efforts to reconcile upon a
ingle record the conflicts between the
tate and the interstate rates.
THAT the portion of section 20 of the
ct which accords the commission right
f access to the accounts, records and
kept by carriers be amended
0 as to also accord right of access to
he carriers correspondence files.
That there should be appropriate and
dequate legislation upon the subject of {
)ntro over railway capitalization.
THAT the use of steel cars in passen-
err train service be required, and that L
he use in passenger trains of wooden |
IRIS between or in front of steel cars be c
rohibited.
THAT under the Panama canal act the I
'mmission be empowered to permit,
inject to further order of the commits .
on, continued operation by railway .
under railway control of water lines
vessels where it VII be in the interest 0
the people and of convenience to the ?
\ n 10 /
duce competition on the route by wa /,
r. J.
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