Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-12-09
c o M M ERcE COM SION
RECOMMENDS CHANGES IN
TRANSPORTATION ACT.
RAILROADS HANDICAPPED
BY WITHHOLDING FUNDS
Tieing Up Of Federal Aid Money by
Treasury Departme Criticized
Commission Urges Law Preventing
Use Of Wooden Coaches on All
Linos---Employes Brlbed.
BY Associated Press.


Washington, Dec. 9.--Immediate
payment to the railroads OF sums
due them under the guaranty pro-
visions of the transportation act but
withheld under the ruling OF the
comptroller of the treasury was de-
clared by the interstate commerce
commi ssion in it's annual report to-
day to be vital in order that the
carriers may properly serve rhe pub
lis" The commission recommended
that congress amend the railroad act
10 permit the release and payment
to the roads of the money thus tied
up.
Many of the roads are greatly ham
dicapped because of their inability to
collect the guaranty. the commission
said. Attic advances against the an
ticipated deficit were made In scores
OF instances. the report said some of
the roads made no application for aid
prior to Sept. l. and as result they
are estopped from claiming even
portion OF moneys Justly due them
until the mechanical work Of COM
plotting their audit for the entire
guaranty period can be accomplished.
The commission said that In most
cases 1t could now determine amounts
or parts of amounts due the car
fiers." but that It's certifications of
these sums to the treasury could not
be honored.by the treasury since tho
comptroller had ruled that such ap-
plications for advances must have
been granted prior to September l.
The commission believed it should be
authorized to make reasonable es-
Inmates" to alleviate the difficulties
confronting many carries In meeting
operating expenses, fixed charges,
oto.
The year's rail operations have de-
veloped the need Of several other
changes In laws, the commission said.
1t urged congress to amend the inter-
state commerce act to provide for the
punishment OF any person offering
or giving to an employee Of carrier
subject to the act any money or
thing OF value with intent to influ-
eenoe his action or decision with re-
spect to car service and also to pro-
vide for the punishment of the guilty.
employe."
Appropriate legislation governing
the transportation Of explosives was
asked. as were changes in laws af-
fecting the awarding OF Preparations
for damages which, the commission
held should be matter entirely for
the adjudication of courts.
Would Ban Wooden Coaches.
The menace Of wooden passenger
coaches was set forth as another
subject for legislative action, the
commission urging that tho roads be
compelled to use steel cars in all pas
senger train service and prohibited
from using wooden cars between or
in front Of steel coaches,
Referring to tho question OF brib-
airy OF railroad employees the COM
mission said.
las a result Of the inadequacy OF
the car supply and Of railroad trans
portation facilities generally during
the past year, q practice has grown
up among shippers OF bribing opera
ting employees Of railroad companies
in order to obtain transportation SER
vices. The demoralizin3 effects of this
practice are far-reaching. Bribery Of
this character in many instances can
not be directly and effectively
reached under existing laws"
On the subject Of equipment sup
ply, the commission declared that
while the shortage could be mini
mixed by car conservation and in
creased efficiency, the only >perma-
nent solution was substantial addi-
lions to equipment. The latest gen
eral statistics Of the commission
showed that the railroads under its
jurisdiction owned approximately g.
36s.S70 freight cars while an addi-
tional 100000 cars were owned pri-
vately. The freight cars were divided
as follows: 1,062.s3o box cars, 1,0O9,-
S75 open top cars. 107,820 flat cars,
$4,000 stock cars, $4,000 refrigerator
cars and $4,000 cars Of miscellaneous
types.
Despite the shortage OF equipment