New-York tribune., 1920-05-21
Roads Given Sweeping
Authority TO Route All
Shipments Regardless
of Consignor's Wishes
East Sends 10000
Cars: West $4,000
Lines Protected From
Suits: Normal Expect
ed in Short Time

IRON Tae 7ri6'pte's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, May 2O-Sweep-
ing authority was vested by the In
terstate Commerce Commission to-
night in the railroads of the country
to relieve the freight congestion.
The three orders issued direct:
That the railroads shall route
all shipments by the most available
and least congested lines, regard
less Of the individual preferences
Of shippers.
That the Western railroads sup
ply to. the Eastern roads within
twenty days q total of 3S,6OO
empty open-top cars, the purpose
being TO provide equipment for
the movement of coal from the
Eastern mines.
That the Eastern roads supply
20 the Western roads within thirty
days 1880 empty box cars, the
underlying purpose being to pro-
vide equipment for the movement
Of grains to the East.
Protection For Railroads
The commissions orders were issued
20 protect the railroads from damage
suits over their movement OF cars, re-
gardless Of ownership, in desperate ef-
forts to break the traffic jam. The
roads have already begun the move
ment OF the cars, it was said.
Members OF the commission indi-
Gated that they would not give prior
ty to any particular commodity at
mis- time, but would adhere to their
program of general measures unless
the situation gets worse.
The commission believes that ,he
orders issued tonight, if executed by
the railroads within the time periods
aid down, viii reestablish equilibrium
N the supply of equipment by the end
Nf the month. This, it is said, will pro-
yide for the needs of all shippers and
restore traffic conditions practically
70 normal.
In the meantime it is hoped that the
Railroad Labor Board, will have dis
posed Of the wage controversy in such
way as to induce the striking rail
road yardmen and switchmcn to return
% work
Pending the decision by the wage
board, nope is entertained that the
condition of general unemployment
viii induce many Of the railroad work
ers to return.
Many Demand Hearing
The Issuance of the orders came
after day Of turmoil for the commits
son. Delegations Of irate shippers,
alarmed municipal officers, diztraught
manufacturers and complaining labor
organizations piled into Washington
during the day and demanded hear
.lga by the commission OF their par
ucular grievance.
The burden Of their demands was
that something be done quickly to re
0'N N't''''t| VI q SOlIO Cioh "
sgresd 'i, a,. ad, M4len, 'HeS
duStrai panic.
jnr tboi,. oi7.,r...;,,,'' a',o - I".t
Of raw n.ats,..'l .-d f,,oi nr ;nah;I;t, .,
P snip ''if products on hand; or IN.
creasIng numbers OF labor lay offs; Of
agricultural sections facing grave OBJ
s'acleS to the movement of their crops;
erallv confront.d a.. ,l'f eor;o1s t;e.bt-
ehinr n ,rcdit. dno - tho t;e-nn of
bank resou,cns IN con,noditine h.id
up in ,ho traffic lam,
The pnhl;. I,,;li+;os Co,n,;yc;on or
Michigan. frst ON rho Ground win a
formal conniair+ da,,andod an ordsr
from tho ro,,r,;.sion fnrcino. tho roil-
roads +o eYnnl,, oo.r, roove coal in.o
that sta+ w ''Ppi! G"i$ 10 hloEe cuai IN .bo
artifciaI q.a -, tonoN j., ,.,re
cities of no - E,1n,,,.,na pont;sc
and Sar;,a,,. .',,4 rn'I'' i'r',oIIo, ci,ies
had beo, fo..o1 ~ ',l,,+ in''.,' b., lacl
Of coal sdG;na- 4.i,, Gf,,, !" rro,
plants and Tt5.. - ,t%C La NY t,ine go
The state v.oro d,,lol,,1ort 10 T.n-
idly diminisbiros ,i,V,aq;o. of f,9nI +roT,
tne Wee, S;r,,;(;o So,'tta,.,, ohin
Kentuckv and 1as+'.,.., pa,,,,l,.I,.n,,;.
aelds
The orSc,.. ."roloo.,+;,.o.y o,,l .,od;c
tnbutino9 en,i,r,n,,, ;,'u .ho fnr
warding ri P.i,0il' s'g 'i.oi We V'e 10;
lines irrosmoc.;,, @f''u t"'o ,.lL;I Un
, ~ss pelohgng to the districts to be
'eIVed.
The preamble NJ +I,o ordo,.e ;us+;f;as
hem on The ,.roona i',e f otpets oS