New-York tribune., 1918-01-07
Reported
In Eastern Section,
Weather, Illness of Train
men and Heavy Holiday
Traffic Responsible

for domestic traffic. effective Jap,.u
21, continuing the present two div.
free time, but providing Cor incrs.s..
ranging from 80 TO 100 per cent +
charges thereafter. ID
he director general AppesIea :.
shippers and cons ignees to rooner,t.:s
releasing cars to meet the natios.I
emergency, and to make special esoss
even before the higher demurras.
charges go into effect. % clear IS
mlnals as contribution to the succes,
OF the war. The necessity for ac.;ss
was emphasized to-day bv rssaa. rsnua
from A. h. Smith, assistant diree.a.
general in charge Of operations eas. '.
the Mississippi River, that "accnmnls
ton is increasing at polnts ess. ..
Pittsburgh and Buffalo" Mr. Sm;..
reported that the situation was d.4
largely to cold weather, but that s;,t
ness among trainmen anj enc;nass,
and scarcity of labor has necess;rstss
extensive curtailment of train ser,'s'
Demurrage Up to $40 Day
The new demurrage rates. spnrovos
by the Interstate Commerce Comn;s
sion on request of the director genersl
are So car for the first dav after .S4
two free days. s4 for the second sas ,as
and 81 additional for each succeedis.
day until the charge day reaches sle
ms maximum then viii be charvss
for every day or fraction thereafssr
hX1stlng demurrage rates in most ser
tlons OF the country are ST for the frs.
day after the two DAYS free time 8
for the second day, 81 for the thir5
cay, 50 for the fourth day and for eacb
Gay thereafter. Even these rates .,a
several times higher than those whicS
prevailed year ago. and which wera
raised last spring, when congestion m
Eastern railroads became acute. MucI
higher rates are charged on the pacise
coast and in several other districts
no changes viii be made for I'M
present in demurragc rules or rates or
export freight. The new regulations
said Mr. McAdoos order. "spee;scaij,'
contemplate the cancellation Of I'll
average agreement provisions of eyist'
ing tariffs Railroads are instructed
TO ille tariffs embodying the new rates
with the Interstate Commerce Com.
mission and state commissions.
An imperative necessity exists ie
releasing freight cars for further ser.
VICE and for relieving terminals whieb
are now badly congested," said M
McAdoo IN statement accompanvinr
the order. These unfavorable coud
''ons are lnJurlously affecting in vita
way the governments conduct of the
war. ITS aid to the Allies, and the SUP
plying OF fuel. food and nccessaries 10
our own people.
,On these accounts l have felt com
PEELED to issue an order which will
- otf Il,
States on the 2lst day OF January.
1918. providing for heavy increase IN
demurrage charges unless cars are
loaded and unloaded with rromptness
I'm making this order | have fullv
considered the embarrass sments of ship
pers and conslgnees on account of The
scarcity of labor, the inevitable
weather, the irregularity of transports
ton, and the consequent freouen.
punching of cars. Nevertheless. / an
convinced that the total Inconvenience
and hardshlps on these accounts vii
be far smaller than the inconvenience
and hardship which our people as a
Whole are suffering on account of the
undue tying up of railroad equipmen.
and Will be very small indeed compared
with the menace which the widespread
tying up of equipment causes TO the
health ana comfort Of the people and
the successful conduct Of our war
operations
i therefore appeal to every citizen
10 accept IN spirit of hearty coopera-
ton the increased charges which will
be imposed. and especially appeal 20
every shipper or consignee. as pa
trlotic duty. to employ every possible
EFFORT and eXpedient even though J;
i
ment and additional cos;) to load and
unload freight cars with the least pos
slble delay, in order that The existing
congestion may be cleared up before
the new demurrage rule goes into et-
feet"
In approving the fling Of new de-
murrage tariffs the interstate Com
merce Commission took action for the
flrst time on request Of the director
general for higher rates.
About one-iifth of the through pas
senger trains on Eastern railroads were
Withdrawn from service today with the
director generals approval. and within
week or two many other passenger
schedules viii be curtaied. DisaI'
rangement Of Passenger schedules Ii
the last week, Assistant Director Gen,
era Smith reported. was promote0
largely by the number OF persons re-
turning home from holiday visits.
In his report TO Secretary McAooo
Mr.. Smith said:
Accumulation is increasing al points
east of Pittsburgh and Buffalo, but tnl'
is due TO the extreme cold weather
Trainmen and enginemen have repoF'.
ed sick il large numbers, which lss
necessitated curtailmont OF train ser
vice.
"A shortage of labor at engine house
terminals is preventing engines IRON
bong turned promptly and ge'''pS
back into service.
The tonnage ratings Of trans nsN'
been reduced on account of cold 10 eZ
pcdite transportation Of coal and foou.
strtfs. Embargoes and diversions aIs
being employed wherever necessa''
and possible
"A heavy fog through the Pittsburgh
district. accompanied BY low TEN,
pelature, Is greatly interfering WI"
switching operations and train NOV,
ments, which. with the shortage y
labor, causes loss of ground tne's
The labor situation In the Plttsbu's'
district Is acute
There is plenty of roal at Halnp
ton Roads, but ships are alow IN ~,
loading. owing to the severe weathss,'
ana the frozen condition pf he coa
Shortage of water at Jersey CITY =
affecting the operation OF railroads ~
that district Temperature IN the cos.
regions is 5 below zero, resulting "
water mains freezing and hamperlns
operation. In Indiana ard Mlchisa.
there IS ne serious difficulty. !ae's
- heavy accumulation Of frelgnt
tidewater ports. Ships are avauso.s
but labor ior loading them is velS