The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-12-09
SHIPPERS BBIB
RAILROAD nIE'l
SAYS THE I:1I...|G!.. 3! ].
New Legislation Is y.
manded In The Annual
Report
rR1 Aaseelated Rre1l

[By AB9oct2&ed FFoo4t tatsss =.
WASHINGTON, D. G. .Dee.i
Immediate payment to- the
roads OF sums due them uIfdt
guaranty provisions Of the
portauon Act but withheld gn4eki
the ruling OF the comptrolleE Qt
the Treasury was declared by he
Interstate Comerce Commission In
its annual report today to be
In order that the carriers may
properly serve the public Ihe
commission recommended
Congress amend the Railroad Sci
to permit the release and paHra
to the roads OF the money thus
tied up. .--,ss 5..s (.
Many of the roads are gHeatl5
handicapped because OFT hetE ms
ability 10 collect the gunTlntJS
commission said. AlthopEh "
Vances against the anticipEt {. ~
ficit were made in-ssc0re8 ot Il
stances, the report said some
the roads made no applicqt ion q. (.
aid prior to Septembers ana 81
result they are est0ppee
claiming even q portion OF the g
neys Justly due th6hi.s until etis
mechanical work Of comp tln
their audit for the entire noun
their. audit for thesBlarSntys
iod can be accompllshed.
The commission said stifait
most cases 1t could now - (;
"amounts or parts Of amounts
the carriers" but that its
cations of these sums to the 4tea2
ury could not be hohored b9
Treasury since theIi comp ptIql
had ruled that suehS6ppl
for advances must have been gan
ed prior to September j.
commiscIon believed IT altnti
authorized to mako irea o1l
estimates" to 8lleyiate the ~
culies confronting many casSt
in meeting operating expense +
ed charges, etc.
The years rail operations hes \
developed the need Of several 9th
changes in laws, the commits ION
said. II urged Congress to oSameuo
the Interstate Commerce Act 20
provide for the punishment OF any
person offering or giving TO IN
employee Of carrier subject - Z
the act any money or thing otfRalss
ue with intent to influences 91tg acst
ton or decision with respect ID catsS
service and also to provide for t9ss
punishment Of the guilty 5gnlp19
yee."
Appropriate legislation govern
ing the transportation OF cap
siYes' was asked Us were change IN
laws affecting the awarding os
reparntions for damage which st9ee
commission held, should be g mat
ter entirely for the ad1udic on
OF courts.
The menace Of wooden l.ii-s
ger caches was set forth as aInue
subject for Legislative action,
commission urging that the IS
be compelled to use, ste9i coee K
in all passenger tralnsseTvtce md I
prohibited from using wooden 9.
between or In front ot5stacisc2a g
es. .r's- .a. ~.
Referring to the question sot
bribery Of railroad employees the
commission said:
"As a result OF the inGdeduaq
of the car supply and Of ratlrog
transportation facilities gepeE
during the past year, q sREae
has grown up among shtpp
bribing operating employ
railroad companies In o. deg 20 . &
tain transportation servicess "a
demoralIzing effects ot th4as
tice are far-reaching. BEt8aE
this character in many tngta4ce
cannot be directly and efteetty W
reached under existing lawss
On the subject OF equtpmgstt
supply, the commission dsclared
that while the shortage cenl
miuimized by car conserYatt ON and
Increased efficiency the only
manent solution was subs g.
additions to equipment. ehe
est general statistics Of the c1 -
mission showed that the. 1ai 81
under the Jurisdiction owned aEs
proxImately 2,36s.s70 freight
while an additional 1909 90 e.Is3
were owned privately. The ffsie
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