The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-12-22
But the, business did not get done.
Five Committees Named.

But the business did not get done.
Five Committees Named.
AS Judge .McCpord Of the Interstate
commerce commission has pointed
out IN his report just made to con-
gress, there have been five commit
tees since November, 1916, appointed
by the railroads and having head
quarters in Washington with the sup
posed purpose Of uniting rail trans.
portatlon and securing an efficient
use ct the carrying axeneies. s
The first two of those commit
tees" says Judge McChord, 'swere
given no real authority although the
interstate Commerce commission was
"a dvised by the executives that they
had been given full power"
The failure Of this first effort was
set forth in an official report of the
l. =: G.: entitled Gear Shortage In
vesugatlon." That report points out
tnat certain railroads were unwilling
to take instructions from this board.
A committee of railway officers of
tull power was recommended
Had No Real Power.
The third committee to uni. the
railroads and solve congestion prob
lens came to Washington in January.
1916, but it soon developed that this
committee, Ike :':e others, did not
have any real power.
In February a fourth committee
took the place Of this committee, but
this COMMITTEES did no better.
Then on April II the American
Railroad association formed what
they called a special committee on
national defense W tn authority in an
executive committee which they
called the railway war board.
This committee promised every
thing and like the others did little
or nothing. The local railroads con-
tinued to compete with one another
and the big divisional systems did not
do the one thing needed: Open up
terminal facilities to other roads or
interchange rolling stock and cars
with other systems.
"Orders Pooling,
The only effort made to pool equip
ment cane as late as Nov. - when
this committee announced that it had
"ordered a pooling of equipment on
the eastern railroads only
Conditions Of traffic have become
worse daily. Bad conditions have
been aggravate~> by the divisi>~ of
governmental authority arising out of
the various so-oalled priority
orders"
Under the law Of April IL, the war
and navy departments were given
power to order their shipments ahead
of all other shipments.
Then came the food law which
gave Herbert Hoover power to put
food shipments ahead Of other ship
ments.
Then came the fuel control law,
which gave Administrator Garfield
authority to put fuel ahead >ot other
shipments. .:-:E
Then came the car shortage amend
ment to the interstate commerce act>
which gave the commission authorit.
to order priority Of any cars they
might designate. ..st =. i,
Then came the so-called pr ority.
legislation and the appointment OF
the Lovett Priority committee with
authority to order specialized priority
at the discretion of the chairman
So altogether there were five sepa-
rate and independent departments of )
the federal government each claim
ing authority under. acts Of congress
to order priority 81 shipments.
The result was congestion and con-
fusion to the superlative degree.
& The president Is the. only person
who can. help In this situation He
has full power. iss,3.s,s.lssssf