Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-05-18
|. {. c. TAKES
INITIAL ACTION
To RELIEVE THE
FREIGHT T|EUP
Te!egraphiC Appeals Are
Sent to State Railway and
Public Service Commits
SionS to Lend Their Aid,
ASSIGN INSPECTORS
TO SURVEY COUNTRY
F FederaI Bureau Is Deter.
mined to Go Into Blockade
With Hammer and longs
So As To Get Quick Relief

[sV MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED wiRE
Washington, May 1.-THE Inter
state Commerce Commi sion took
its first step today toward break
ing the freight blockade.
Telegraphie appeals were sert to
all state railway and public service
commi issions, urging them to join
with the government in lifting the
burden, while the commissions in
spectors were put to work to help
get accurate data on cond tons.
Virtually all the several hundred
inspectors were assigned to aid in
surveying traffic conditions at i'm
portant gateways, where the flow
of freight traffic was clogged. The
commission also expected to be full
ly informed on the terminal situa-
ton by tomorrow night.
Members of the commission rec
ognized that the crisis would pro-
vide real test for the new trans
portation act and likewise that the
emergency clauses must measure
up to the claims of their staunch-
est supporters if freight is again
set to moving smoothly,
Shippers Complain.
With increasing complaints from
shippers and requests for assist
ance from railroads, the commits
sion is understood to have deter
mined to go into the freight tie
up with hammer and tongs Offt-
cials, however. urged patience by
those watching the immediate re-
suits, since it may require days,
xrnnlyg fn Gtnrt qnNtn1nU
like resumption of normal trans
portation.
In it's first attempts, the commits
sion proba bly, will deal with local
situations through individual roads,
This was expected to last. however,
only until general scheme can be
worked out by which priorities and
embargoes can be employed.
Further suggestions of the roads
were given the commission at con-
| ferences with representatives Of the
railroads and shippers organiza-
ton officials. The fuel situation
has slowly developed to the danger
point, representatives said, and
they proposed that the commission
establish a general, although coun-
ter movement of coal cars east
ward.
The commission, in a statement,
said it was keeping in touch with
the situation through its own rep
resentatives, in cooperation with
the roads. The American Railway
Car Service has turned over to the
commission its figures on the car
supply.
No Hearings Scheduled.
"In the last few days the state
ment continued. complaints and
requests for assistance have been
rece we'd from shipping interests.
These have been handled immedi-
ately with the carriers and in many
instances the inspectors of the COM
mission have been employed upon
the ground to help break the Jam
at some congested points.
Many requests have been re-
celved for information as to wheth-
er the commission contemplated
hearings upon the application filed
by important railroads last Satur-
day. asking the commission to eX-
ercise its emergency powers under
the emergency act. The commits
sion does not contemplate the hold :
ing of any hearings in the, near fu-
ture but it expects to give some di--
rections as seem warranted ana
necessary"