Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-12-10
Railroads Badly
in Need Guaranty
Funds Held Up

Washington. Dec. 9-Immeaiate pay
ment TO the railroads of sums due
them Under the guaranty provisions OF
the TRANSPORTATION Act but withheld
tndeF the ruling of the comptroller OF
the Treasury was declared by the In
tefstafe Commerce Commission in its
annual report today 10 be vital in or
der that the carriers may property
serve the public The commission
recommended that Congress amend the
Railroad Act TO permit the release
and payment 10 the roads Of the mon
ey thus tied up.
Many OF the roads are greatly handi-
capped because OF their inability 70
collect the guaranty. the commission
said. Although advances against the
anticipated deficit were made In scores
OF Instances. the report said. some
of the roads made no application for
aid prior TO September / and as a re-
suit they are stopped from claiming
even a portion of moneys Justly due
them until the mechanical work Of
completing their audit for their entire
guaranty period can be accomplished.
The commission said that IN most
cases 1t could now determine amounts
or parts of amounts due the carriers.
but that its Qualifications of thess
sums to the Treasury could not Do
honored by the Treasury since the
comptroller had ruled that such ap-
pIications for advances must have been
granted prior to September L The
commission believed it should be auth
orized 10 make reasonable estimates
10 alleviate the difficulties confronting
many carriers in meeting operating ex-
Denses. fixed charges. etc.
The years rail operations have de-
veloped the need of several other
changes in laws. the commission said.
1t urged Congress- To amend the In
terstate Commerce Act to provide for
ing or giving TO an employee OF a
carrier subject to the act any money
or thing Of value with intent to in
ftuence his action or decision with re-
sDect 10 car service and also to pro-
vide For the punishment OF the guilty
employee
Appropriate legislation governing the
transportation of explosives was asked
as were changes in laws affecting the
awarding of separations for damages
which. the commission held. should be
a matter ea5ireiy for the adjudication
Of COURTS
The menace Of wooden passenger
coaches was set Firth az another sub
iect for legislative action, the commits
sion urging that the roads be COM
PEELED to use steel cars In all passen-
ger train service and prshibited from
using wooden cars between 81 In front
of steel coaches
Referring TO the question Of bribery
Of railroad employees. the commission
said:
las result Of the inadeQuacy Of
the ear supply and of railroad trans
portation facilities generally during
the past rear, practice has grown IN
among shippers Of hribing operating
employees of railroad companies in Or
der TO obtain TRANSPORTATION services
The desnoraIixing effects Of this prac-
tiee are far-reaching- Bribery OF thas
character in many Instances can not
be directly and excessively reached un-
der existing laws"
On the subject Of equipment supply
the commission declared ttnf wliile thu
shortage cruid be minimfxed by car
conservation and increased efficiency.
the only permanent solution was sub
ssEntial additions to equipment. The
latest genera sfnfis1ass Of tbs com
mission showed that the railroads. un-
der its Jurisdiction ounsa aupruxtnAfe-
iy 2.3ss.Ss0 freight carr while an adj
ditional 1890 cars were owned pri-
vately The ffeight cars were divided