New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-08-11

HR. PITTMAN: Mr. President, I
had just stated that but few
months prior to the taking over
of the railroads by the govern
ment the congestion of our lines had
reached such an extent that starvation faced
communities in this country, and tried to
state my opinion as to why it occurred, and
the opinion given in this article, which is
far superior to any statement I could make,
is to the effect that great lines like the New
York Central and the Pennsylvania had
reached out with their tentacles throughout
$ the country and dragged the freight across
those lines through their great power of
business to the exclusion of other lines and
congested the great port of New York, while
other ports had ample facilities.
Now, that has been remedied since the
government took charge of the roads. I
consider it great benefit to this country
to relieve that congestion. I consider that
the freight conditions in this country are
100 per cent better than they were before
the government took charge of the roads.
MR.. SHERMAN: Mr.. President. want to
inquire of the Senator how he reconciles
his statement with the fact that before the
government took charge of the railways
got freight from Chicago to Washington in
thirty days. That was a delayed service
because of war conditions, and we expected
some delays. I ordered a certain piece of
freight, which was shipped from Chicago
last February. l got it on the 10th of July
1918. 1t was in transit five months.
Mr.. PITTMAN: What was its character?
Mr. SHERMAN: The package of freight
was made up in car and the car was lost
between here and Chicago.
Mr.. PITTMAN: May ask what was the
character of the freight?
Mr.. SHERMAN: Dead freight: bookcases
Mr.. PITTMAN: Our government at the
present time is more interested in the trans
portation of food and ammunition and farm
products and implements of war and our SOL
diers, necessary part of the transported
ton, than it is in transporting bookcases
for lawyers.
Mr.. SHERMAN: The transportation of
food is worse than the transportation of
dead freight or -perishable articles 1t
is impossible to get barrel of apples or
potatoes from Chicago into Washington and
has been since the government took charge
of the railroads, in a condition where they
are edible
Mr.. PITTMAN: Mr.. President, have not
heard of any lack of apples from any part
of the country. I have seen the market
filled with apples here. Possibly there has
been some choice brand that the Senator
from Illinois raises in his garden that the
railroads heretofore brought to him.
Mr.. WARREN: The express companies
are moving on this same line. left on my
desk when l here a postal card
making inquiry if I had received a lot of
sausage sent from point in Rhode Island
on the l4th of January OF course, I had
not received it, Yesterday l had to sign
an affidavit before a notary about some
shirts that had ordered which were to be
sent on the 1st of June and were shipped.
according to the statement, on the 18th or
l4th of June, and they have not arrived.
Let me say this in all seriousness 1t is
certainly trivial argument at this time
in answer to the great article presented
here by the member of the Interstate Com
merce Commission for gentlemen to get up
here and say they could not get d barrel
of apples from Chicago or a case of sausage
from Rhode Island. Now, there was a time
when the railroad companies were run in
the interest of such gentlemen. There was
time when possibly a man would not eat
sausage unless it came from Rhode Island
or apples unless they came from Illinois,
At the present time there is not the con-
gestion with regard to necessities that ex-
listed at the time the railroads were taken
over. You have not hundred miles Of
jammed along the side tracks of this
country.
Mr.. SMOOT: There were last winter,
though.
Mr. PITTMAN: Next winter you may
croak, but at the present time we are dis
cussing last winter, which is a reality They
were digging coal at the side tracks with
PICKS and there was not room to put an
other car there. There was not member
Of this body but admitted that the unfortu-
nate coal condition due to Transported
tion, and IT was due to congestion Of trans
portation more than anything else. Now
IN fact, within thirty days after the govern
ment took charge Of these roads the con
gestion was removed and for good Sena-
tors complain that they have personally suf-
-sred some inconvenience. Yes; we arc all
suffering Inconvenience. 1t is time when
we should suffer inconvenience, some little
Inconvenience like the loss of "a barrel Of
apples, without any extraordinary complaint.
When we realize, If we do realize, the suf-
f~rings Of hundreds Of thousands and mill
rms Of our boys in France to-day, it seems
unhappy for man TO stand here and argue
that the great confederation here is his per
sonal feelings viz regard TO a barrel of
apples or q Gaze ofhausape