New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-05-24
Big Business s.
Acts To-day to
End Rail Jam
Conferences i'm Eastern.
Cities Between. Interests
Affected Will Consider
Measures for Relief
Merchants to Cooperate
Committees Will Be Ap-
pointed. to Aid i'm Ex-
pediting Local Traffic

Measures to end the freight conees-
bankers, railroad officials and repre-
sentxtives ~of tire government at meets
ings to-day and tomorrow in New
York and other important shipping
centers east Of the Mississippi Plans
also wall be made to safeguard ship
ping. interests against future labor
troubles.
Acting at the suggestion of the In
terstate Commerce Commission, w. C.
Kendall. manager Of the car service
department of~the American Railway
| ences today in New York, Boston,
Philadelphia Washington, Baltimore,
Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Toledo
| and Chicago Each meeting is expected
to appoint committee TO expedite
! local traffic. X
The committees will be composed of
one representative OF the railroads,
one ofsAhe National Industrial Traffic
League an association of traffic man
ayers Of large Industrial corporations,
ant" ore member appointed by the In.
terstAte Commerce, Commission. It ID
expected a definite program for speed
resalt.-frana the joint work Of these
committees.
Merchants to Outline Program
Meantime meeting called "a rally
to the defense of New York" has been
ton. 1t will be held at luncheon at
the Hotel Aston tomorrow. Frederick
J, Roster, former president of the San
francisco Chamber Of Commerce, is to
Be the chief speaker. He is credited
with having led the fight against
strikes called by the longshoremen and
teamsters Of his city and is expected
to suggest to New York how to deal
with the situation hers.
at is impossible to exaggerate the
seriousness of the situation which now
Morgan, president of the association,
and Alfred e. Marling, former presi-
dent of the State Chamber of Com
|. merce, say in a call for the meeting
issued yesterday. 1.-THE meeting will
adopt measures to free the transporta-
ton lines from interruption now and
IN the future. 1t is situation that
must be met and conquered if we are
to continue to do business.
"The officers Of the largest CONNER
cial organizations of the city, who are
in touch with the members Of their
associations, have reached the conclu
domination of small cliques banded to-
gether and occupying strategic posi-
tions in regard to the movement of
merchandise, both by land and by
water, must be thrown off.
public sentiment undoubtedly is
overwhe lmingly in our favor and we
intend to keep it so. We shall ask
nothing unjust or unfair, but we shall
insist upon the right to the free use
of the transportation lines. Business
men of New York must be aroused to
a realization of what confronts them
We will win with united front"
Letter From Senator Calder
Mr.. Morgan yesterday made public
a letter from Senator William Nj. Cab
der, relating to the freight situation
here. Senator Calder said:
~ am convinced that never in the
history of New York has there been SO
much cause for dissatisfaction on the
part Of the business organizations of
the city. Because of the poor facili-
ties and inability to handle the freirht
OF New York, particularly Manhattan
Island, the supremacy of this port il
threatened. Our railroad terminal
and shipping conditions are such as to
warrant the most drastic action on
the part Of those interested This
10 ftoC Vily dHcCClHE tHc reDu-
tation of the city as the business
center of the country and demoraliz-
ing business itself, but it also is
threatening the food supply.
For years we have been discussing
marginal railroads, terminal ware
houses, better wharf facilities, and the
combination of express and trucking
interests under single control, but we
talk and do nothing. do not mean
to imply that any ono is especially to
blame for this, but 1t is manifestly due
to supineness rather than lack of in
terest, and it seems to me that in a
community like New York City, with it's
vast business interests, some rroup of
men should get together and work out
this problem.
~ know there are petty interests.
but these should be submerged, for
after all the welfare of this great mass
OF people is greater than Of few. |
am also addressing this letter to the
Chamber of Commerce and Board of
Trade and Transportation, and it would
seem to me that these three great or
CARNATIONS ought to take care of this
very serious situation. You NAV be
assured that I stand ready, as YOUR
representative, here, to join in this i'm
portant work"
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