Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-15
j. S. AID
IN MOVING FREIGHT
Association of Railway
Executives Submits Recon-
mendations to !. &C.

! The Association of Railway Execu-
| tives has suggested to the Interstate
| Commerce Commission that part OF
the governments 100000. 900 revolv-
| ing fund be put to immediate use for
purchase of rail equipment to aid in
| relieving the present acute freight
| congestion. At the same time the
Senate adopted resolution offered by
| Senator Reed Of Missouri, calling
| upon the commission for information
as to what steps have been taken to-
ward breaking the traffic JAM.
To meet the insistent demands of
freight transportation the executives
recommended that $125.00O,000 be set
aside for purchase OF equipment. es-
pecially cars. Each road would be
asked for statement of equipment
needs and loans apportioned pro rata.
| mission act at its earliest opportunity
| because OF the car shortage.
Program Offered BY Executives.
The following program was also
offered by the executives for the dis
position OF the remainder OF the $780,
0O6. GOO:
temporary reserve for judgments
ana claims against the Railroad Ad-
mln:stratlon on the roads account.
SAC, 200, 900.
Appropriation for the short line rail-
! roads. $4,000. 600
A reserve to meet maturing obliga-
tons. S50.00O.000
| ,e appropriatioa for additions and bet
movement of cars. S73.000.000.
II maturing obligations of the va
rioIs roads do not require full use
OF the s50.000,00o set aside for that
purpose. the remainder should be
turned into the fund for the purchase
OF equipment, it was added.
The commission should adopt a
+; more liberal policy with respect to
weaker roads," in the matter of Sc
curities accepted by the government.
the executives urged. They declared
sought could be more easily gained
since 1t worked a more general de-
velopment of adequate service.
The commission was asked to join
| In urging enactment Of the Cummins
mendment to the transportation act
aiding the corporations to expend
greater sums for equipment. 1t was
said that if the f1ve-year Limitation
were removed and extended to ten
years for refunding loans the roads
would be In a better position to de-
ment buying. The executives believed
that enactment OF the Cummins
amendment would mean that the
roads would have approximately
$500. 900. 900 more in cash than under
the original provisions of the trans
ten years to pay back $765,000.000 ex-
pended on their properties under fed
eral control.
Mr.. Hines' Proposal.
Director General Hines had pro-
posed to reduce this amount by with
holding s495.00O.000 which the gov
eminent owes the roads in rentals.
The changes, 1t was believed. would
act as a tonic for the credit of many
m ediately available cash supply.
Coincident with the suggestion pre-
sented to the commission. some of the
executives were engaged in investi-
cations Of the car shortage and
freight congestion on which reports
have come from all parts Of the coun-
try. Conferences on the situation were
held with railroad representatives and
officials Of the car service commits
sion. the railroad agency which Is to
work in cooperation with the COM
mission in application Of the car serv-
ice provisions Of the transportation
act.
Protests and reports of further in
creases Of congestion continued to
come in to the commission. Several
delegations OF snlppeFs cdieu on rep
resentative Esch. Joint author OF the
new railroad law. urging help of some
sort Coal operators In West Virginia
claimed they were unable to ship coal
and that. while their mines were still
operating. the production was low,
due to the freight traffic situation.
Word was received from fruit and
vegetable interests in several sections
that their crops were In danger be-
cause they could not be moved. 1t
was said the apple crop of the Pa
cific northwest is nearly all awaiting
shipment without any prospect of be-
ing moved.