The Donaldsonville chief., 1919-01-04
LOCAL TRAINS NOT RESTORED.
T. & P. Declines to Obey Order Of
Railroad Commission.

l. q DecAneSs TO opey ofoSI "a
Railroad Commission.
The Dummy and the plug" lo-
cal trains on the Texas g. Pacific be-
tween Torras and New Orleans, We're
aot put back into service as ordered
by the Railroad Commission. Instead,
officials of the T. & F. notified the
Railroad Commission that they would
sue out an injunction in the federal
:ourts to restrain the commission
from enforcing the order. No legal
action in the matter had been taken
% to Saturday, however, although
Sunday was the last day of grace al
lowed for the replacement of the
trains.
It was reported in a New Orleans
paper that Shelby Taylor, chairman
of the commission, and John I.
Michel, Orleans member Of the body,
expected to interview Judge Thos. j.
Freeman, general counsel for the
Texas & Pacific, with reference to
the subject, but the outconef the
|conference-if it We're held as
planned-eaz not .e 9es' energy IN know"
sThe connie. mfieE eampaign,ha re-
storation of these two trains is only
matter of justice to the people along
| the line of the railroad, who are
sighteously indignant at the failure
to restore them," said Chairman
Taylor. ssAbout year ago the com
mission and the people generally
lconsented to their discontinuance as
la fuel saver, with the distinct prom
3ise. that as soon as coal was available
they would be restored. y
Meanwhile, the railroads have
.lpassed under federal jurisdiction
and j. E. Lancaster, federal director
| of the T.. & p, claims that this fac
/ puts a new phase on the situation.
Commenting on the matter, th'
|Pointe Coupee Banner says:
ssThe railroad commission has beer
& very wise in ordering restoration
:. Of the additional passenger servie'
lover the Texas & Pacific road.
sOne or. two things will be accom-
Iplished by the order which the rail
|road commission has wisely promul
[gated.
aEither the Dummy and tn
.plug' will be restored to service owe owe
1.-THE 7. & P. or the railroad commls
siision will learn whether or not it ha
I ,sIE,any actual authority over the road
fgasIa ggysrn
.lIment.
, There is no question Of the ne
Icessity for the restoration Of tnes
! two trains.
ssWhen the trains were ordere
taken off it was done because theT
j Twas a shortage of coal, and ON tn
,fdistinct understanding that as 500
as the supply became sufficient tn
trains would be restored. This wa
la binding agreement on the part
/ THE road.
During the meantime, hoWeve7
! the federal government took over tn
;, operation of the roads, and the o.
.Ificials of the road have since refuse
i. to restore the two trains on tn
ground that the federal governmer
-lhad control Of the operation OF tn
road, and the order for restoratio
has to come from the director c
!. railroads or his representative.
sIf the railroad commission ca
get these trains restored it will b
: doing d great service, and giving r.
lief to all of the people who ny
= falong. the Port Allen branch.
: IF on the other hand, it cant ge
n this train servise restored, b.
flights the issue through the court
n it would at least have demonstrate
e the exact s.aAsl'osf the railroad con
|. mission PRS Of the ne,onditions. .
{ ts1istri the fact
: s: e->N~ --S-sSs ond so