New-York tribune., 1920-05-20
Industry Cian'ors
For Freight Cars
|. c. G. S,uamped With
Appeals for Priority
Orders in Shipn,ent

WASHINGTON, May ia wild
scramble among individual lines of in
dustry for preferential treatment in
car movements developed to- day 1t
came as the Interstate Commerce Com
mission gave indication of reaching
definite conclusions on plans to break
the freight blockade.
There was clamor for cars and for
priority orders by grain and coal deal
ers. The American Gamers Associa-
ton protested that unless its ship
ments were moved ahead there would
be heavy losses in the Pittsburgh,> Nc
Keesport and Youngstown districts. BY
letter, telegram and through personal
representation the commission, the
American railroad associations car
service committee and railroad execu-
tives here were apprised Of the urgent
needs of almost every line of trade.
A committee of the executives rec
commended to the commission that it
order the transfer of 10000 box cars
from the Atlantic seaboard to lines
west Of Chicago, and the relocation of
10000 coal cars, now west of the Mis-
sissippi River, to areas in the freight
congested East. This should be done
within the next thirty days if direct
beneficial result is to be accomplished
the rail heads believed
Michigan Appeals for Coal
Members of the Michigan Congress
sional delegation, together with rep
resentatives Of Michigan public utili-
ties, appealed to the commiss for
consideration in the movement of coal
to that territory. A pressing need for
fuel was declared to exist throughout
the state and they urged the commits
sion to clamp down on "the misuse
Of opentop equipment,". so that it
would be available for TRANSFORMATION
of coal.
Gas and electric plants in most of
the cities are operating on a narrow
margin, according to representations
to the commission. The delegation
charged the fuel shortage to the use of
coal cars for other purposes which,
consequently, left lines transporting
freight to the Michigan peninsula
without adequate equipment.
At a conference called by Director
Barnes of the Grain Corporation com
plants about the car supply in the
grain producing sections of the Middle
West was the principal topic of dis
cusslon. There were assertions that
even when cars were supplied less
than 20 per cent of them were fiji for
loading"
Presidents of several railroads
answered these charges with the state
ment that the task Of restoring equip
ment to a serviceable basis was one
almost beyond human apprehension"
and that the rail lines were doing their
utmost in repairing and making cars
ready to meet the forthcoming heavy
grain movement.
Urges Priority for Wheat
Mr.. Barnes said that wheat ship
ments after June l should be given
! priority, since adequate and imm ediate
movement of the grain underlay stable
credit for the growers. But Hale
Holden, president of the Burlington
and q member of the executive commit
tee, said the roads could not possibly
furnish 100 per cent car supply because
much of the rolling stock had not been
kept in condition during the war.
While the railroad executives were
pressing for new cars and locomotives,
Senate and House leaders decided def
nitely against other appropriation to
enable the roads to buy additional
equipment. Leaders said Congress
would content itself at this time by
extending from five to- fifteen year.
the period in which the roads might
repay loans made under the trans
portation act.
With respect of the movement of
box cars westward and the counter
transfer of coal equipment eastward
the executives told the commission it
should expedite this exchange because
of threatened extension of the con
gested areas. The commission said il