El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-12-07
RAILROADS AID
NATION IN WAR
I. G. G. Recommends Legis
lation Needed for Better
Handling of Problems.

Washington. D. c., Dec. The
part American railroads have played
in preparing the nation for war was
related to congress today in the an
nual report Of the interstate com
merce commission. While struggling
under unusual commercial demands,
the commission explained, the rail-
roads were forced suddenly to trans
port great numbers Of troops ana
quantities OF cantonment materials.
The giant task was accomplished sue
cessfuliy, but only by cooperation
Of the roads among themselves and
with the commerce commission.
The commission gave no specific
words OF praise for the railroads, but
communication was implied.
Better Use OF Freight Cars.
Commenting on the need for bet
ter utilization Of freight cars, the
commission said:
THE cooperation of the shippers
and carriers is worthy Of especial
note. The volume of business being
offered TO the carriers for transporta-
ton materially exceeds the
assimilating Of the transporta-
ton instrumentalities. Owing TO the
demand upon car and locomotive 4
building plants for equipment for use
abroad, both by our own forces and {
by our allies, and to the unpreced- /
euted difficulty Of securing labor and I
material, il is impossible at the pres !
ent time for these plants to do much 4
more than replace the equipment worn /
out in the service Of the United States. I
II is apparent that the solution Of the /!
car service problem until such time /
as additional equipment and facili- /
ties can be provided lies in securing /
the NJ those "a fr-aa q
existing"
LeEiaIation Recommended.
Recommendations for legislation Z
were submitted as follows
That appropriate provision be 4
made for punishment Of any attempt /.
by intimidation, threats, Inducements
or otherwise, TO influence the testi-
mOny Of any witness before the COM
mission or to deter him from testi-
Tying; as also for punishment Of mis-
behavior, disorderly conduct, or con-
tumacy, in or about any proceeding
before the commission
That the congress fix q limit OF
three years within which a carrier
subject to the act to regulate com
merce may bring action for recovery
Of any part Of its charges.
Enforce Use of steel Cars.
That without addiction Of any
federal authority TO finally con-
troll question affecting interstate
Gnu AD- q 50 NI-AALLAE4 c. the COAAA~
mission be expressly author
lied 10 cooperate with state
commissions in efforts 10 reconcile
upon single record the conflicts be-
tW cen The state and the Interstate
rates.
THAT the use OF steel cars in pas
senger train service be required, and
that the use in passenger trains OF
wooden cars between or in front Of
steel cars be prohibited.
Would Prohibit TreSpassfng.
That congress consider the adivs-
ability Of prohibiting by statute. under
appropriate penalty, tressPa sses on
the trains OF interstate carriers and
on tracks OF such carriers at places
where there are two or more tracks or
within the limits Of incorporated
towns, or at places where the carrier
BY appropriate sign or warning gives
notice that trespassing on its tracks
Is prohibited, providing that nothing
therein is to be considered as max
ng lawful any trespass which would
be unlawful under state laws; ana
further consider the ACCESSIBILITY OF
comforting concurrent jurisdiction
upon federal and state courts for the
enforcement Of such statute"