Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-12-07
COMMERCE BOARD
IN ANNUAL REPORT POINTS TO
DUTIES OF TRAFFIC LINES
coMMENoAr,oN IMPLIED
FOR WORK TO DATE
Report Gives No lntimation Regarding
comr,ission's Attitude Toward East.
ern and Western Rate casss-saettsr
Utilization Of Freight Cars Sussested
Standardization Of Operating Rules

Washington. Dec. Tho part
Americas railroads have played in
preparing toe nation for war was re-
listed 20 congress today in the annual!
report Of the interstate commerc.
commission While struggling under
mission explained. the railroads were
forced suddenly to transport great
numbers 81 troops and quantities IF
cAntonment materials. The giant task
was accomplished successfully, but
only by corporation OF the roads
among themselves and with the COM
merce commission.
The commission gave no specific
words Of praise for the railroads, but
commentator was implied.
Hooking ahead. tho commission sees
that It is necessary TO deYelop TO q
greater extent the principle OF priori-
" for transportation OF commodities
essential to the conduct Of the waf,
and predicts .brmder action OF this
sort in the near. future"
No limits given OF the commissions
attitude toward the Eastern and West
scrn. railroads pending application icr
increased freight races I'D meet extra
ordinary expenses.
= Mainly thru new powers over car
service. says the commission. 1t has
been able to develop traffic co-opera-
ton between roads in the most eco
nomic use o. freight cara Attention is
called to the Esch car service act Of
last May which some commissioners
have saad they believe conveys ade-
quate power to The commission to vir-
tually assume management Of the
roads.
This law gayes authority whenever
the commission shall be Of the opinion
that necessity exists for immediate
action to suspend the operation Of
any or all rules. regulations or psac-
tees then established with respect to
car service for such time % may be
dctsTmtned by the commission, and
ALSO authority to make such just and
reasonable directions with respect "a
car service during such time "a in tt
opinion viii best. promote car service
In tho interest Of the public and the
commerce Of the people. -
Better Utilization Of Care.
Commenting on the need for better
|utilixation Of sfreishs earA the com.
mission sa3d:
The corporation q the shipper
and carriers - worthy Of especial note
Tho volume Of, businsU being offered
to the ,cazrsers for transportation mn.
tesaAaly E exceeds the discriminating
ability OF the transportation instru.
mentalities. Owing to the demand
upon car and locomotive building
plants Tor equipment for use abroad
both by our own forces and by our
ailiea and TO the unprecedented diff
Guilty Of securing Rbor and material
it 10 impossible 1t the present time
for these plants to do much moro thar
replaces the equipment worn out II
the service in the United States. It i
apparent that tho solution Of the caa
service problem until such time as I'D
ditional equipment and facilities car
be provided lies in securing the maxi
mum use Of thnse already existing"
Liquidation Recommended.
Recommendations for Legislation
were submtted as follows:
That Inappropriate provisions bs
made for punishment OF any attempt
by intimidation threat, inducements
or otherwise, to influence the testi.
mony of any witness before the com.
mission or to deter him from testify.
ing; AZ also for punishment Of mis-.
behavior. disorderly conduct, or con-
tumacy, in or about any proceeding
before the commission.
That the congress fix a limit Of
three years within which a carrier
subject TO the act to regulate COM
merce mag bring action for recovery
Of any part OF it's charges, and amend
section Is Of the act 50 as to provide
that il the carrier begins such action
afser expiration OF the two-year limi,
now prescribed in that section OF
within 30 days before such expiration
recovery Of damages may be filed with
the commission within 90 days after
such action shall have been begun by
the carer. and not after.
"Tha: without ahdication OF any fed
eral authority to finally control ques-
tions affecting interstate and foreign
commerce, the commission be express
ly authorized to cooperate with state
commissions in efforts to reconcile
upon q single record the conflicts be-
tween the state and the interstate
rates.
That the portion Of section 20 Of the
act which accords the commission right
Of access to the accounts, records
and memoranda kept by carriers be
amended 50 as to also accord right OF
access to the carriers correspondence
files.
That there should be appropriate
Any Sickness L