Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-05-21
R. R..
ORDERS HERE
Nothing Concerning U. S. Con-
troll Received by Local Line
Officials = Situations Same

Officials - Situations Same
Although to all intents and purposes
the government has resumed control
of the freight and freight car move
ment on all the railroads of the coun-
try, by formal orders issued by the
Interstate Commerce Commission last
night. no information concerning
such a move has been received offici-
ally at any of the railroad terminals
and all that Is known of the action
Is what is gained from the various
newspapers. it was said at the termi-
nails today.
As far as this city Is concerned
conditions of shipping on each of the
railroads entering this city remain
about the same. Very little change Is
tions, and the movement of freight
was received and shipped at all sta
tions, and the movement of freight
continuing on an almost normal scale.
Fifty cars of freight were received at
the Central Railroad of New Jersey
terminal today. and like number of
cars have been received at this term
inal for the past few days.
One freight train a day is being
received at the Pennsylvania terminal
here. and although this brings con-
sidera BILE stuff to this city, the Penn
sylvania is unable to fill the orders
and vicinity for empty car in which
to ship the finished product. The
Central and Lehigh Valley also have
big demand for empty cars. and ef-
forts are being made at all times TO
secure enough cars to meet the de-
mand, but this seems to be impos-
sible. However enough empty cars
are received to keep the goods NOV
ing to a certain extent.
Since taking the railroads under
its control the government has issued
the following rules and regulations to
expedite the movement Of cars:
Recruiting of freight by routes most
available to expedite movement and
relieve congestion.
Ordering ownership of cars disre-
garded.
Prohibiting any additional charge
for transportation of freight by other
than original designated route.
Warming that any dispute on the
part of carriers regarding division of
rates and charges will result In ar
bitrary fixing of division by the COM
mission.
Direct delivery via specified routes
from one road to another of approx
mately 1000 empty coal cars daily
for twenty days and $50 empty box
cars daily for thiry days to relieve
car shortage In the grain and coal
industries.
The orders issued last night mark
the firA definite move on the part
of the Interstate commerce commits
sion to end the congestion at freight
terminals and to relieve the acute
shortage of empty cars at points
where they are urgently needed
to prevent slowing down If not COM
plete stoppage of hundreds of large in
tries The orders are also in line with
the recommendations made by the
railway executives at the conference
yesterday with members of the inter-
state commerce commission. Prac-
tically all of the congestion Is at large
terminals where only about fifty per
cent of the normal supply of labor
is available, and also because of the
|refusal on the part of one or two
of the larger railroads to abide by
I Igentleman's agreement relative TO the
disregard Of ownership of cars.
Tells of Priority Case
When the "outlaw" strikers of the
Erie railroad at Port Jervis, N. Y,
returned to work some weeks ago
through the efforts of Rev. William
]. Donohue, pastor of the Sacred
Heart church, 1t was generally re-
ported that the men returned with
the understanding that the priority
list would be reestablshed If they re-
turned to work.
A communication received today
from r. S. Parson, general manager
of the Erie Railroad Company, de-
MES this report and states that the
men lost all right on the priority list.
The letter which explains the matter
fully follows:
MAY 21. 1920.
mfr. +. l.. Blendinger.
"vice President l.. V. r. r.,
"143 Liberty Street. New York.
Dear Sir:
Answering your question relative
to seniority rights at Port Jervis,
New York, / beg to advise that the
men at Port Jervis went on strike
and were duly warned that in case
they did not return at certain date
they would lose all their rights. They
foolishly refused to return on the
date set, and have. therefore, lost all
of their rights. They bitterly regret
their action in not treasuring more
highly their employment with the
Erie railroad.
Numerous efforts, both honest
and dishonest, have been made to in
duce the railroad company to restore
to them their seniority rights, but in
Justice to the men who remained
loyal to the RAILROAD company and to
the men who were hired in the in
terim, we cannot and will not violate
the obligation which we took upon
ourself in promising the men who
were loyal that they would not be
deprived of the rights. which they
shave accumulated, by any settlement
which might be made. .-.
yours very truly,
''R. S. PARSON.