Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-18
STATE AID IS ASKED
TO END FREIGHT JAM
/. c. G.. Gives One Member Au-
thority to Handle Situation;
Wide Inquiry Started.

aSninNton, May Is Ht ihtoioNAoe
Commerce Commission took its first step
yesterday toward breaking the freight
blockade Telegraphic appeals were sent
to all State Railway and Public Service
Commissions, urging them to JON hands
with the Government in lifting the burden
while the Commission S force OF inspectors
was put to work to help get accurate data
respecting conditions at critical points.
Members of the Commission recog-
nizcd that the present crisis would pro-
vide real test for the new transporta-
tion act, and likewise that the cmcr-
gency clauses must measure up To the
claims of their staunchest supporters II
freight is again set to moving smoothly
throughout the country.
Washington. MAY 1.-THE Interstate
Commerce Commission adopted new
policy Yesterday designed to meet the
present critical situation caused by the
freight congestion now threatening the
country's industry. Commissioner Clyde
H. Aitchison, who was appointed last
week TO take charge of the car service
division, was Yesterday gwen almost com
plete authority to handle the crisis.
Only on questions of the greatest mo-
ment will he be obliged to submit IN
his line of action to the full Commission
The Commission is declared TO have rs
complete control over the movement OF
freight cars as was exercised under red
cral control Cans may be denied to any
shipper who refuses to conform to the
suggestions" sent out by the Comms-
sion. and in this fashion it Is expected that
all unjust demands for priority shipments
hv manufacturers of nOn-CsscntialS may
hc quickly stilled.
The Commission suggested TO the Cleve-
land Orc and Coal Exchange yesterday
that coal and ore mines shipping Great
Lakes ports enter into a pool whereby
their output would he transported with
out preference 10 any one party or class.
This suggestion can easily be made man
datorv through the denial of cars TO any
shipper who declines TO enter the pool.
Instead of throwing all the emergency
powers Immediately into use, IN order to
clear the congestion, rs was requested
SATURDAY. bv a group Of important rail-
roads. tho Commission announced that
Il would as the facts developed, give
such directions as seem warranted and
necessary. 1t is expected, however,
that within two or three days orders
Will be issued granting priority Of ship
Inent to foods. particularly perlshable
Vegetables and fruits. and taht the next
right Of way will be given to fuel.
The statement was made at the Com
mission offices Yesterday that It conteIn-
Mated as far back as last Thursday
the Intervention asked by the railroads
on SATURDAY.. The Commission. it be-
came known. acted swiftly and sent 100
of its inspectors into the field u make
4 survey Of the congestion. Reports
from the inspectors began coming IN
TODAY. and indicated a condition even
posed to exist.
Indications are that further orders
from the commission viii be based upon
the reTOrts from the inspectors and in,
stead Of being general IN character vii
10 directed To individual shippers and
carriers. Commissioner Atchson said
the situation was like q log jam and
that one log at 9 time must be pulled
out before the current Of traffic flowed
normally again.
4 statement was issued yesterday by
the commission, which said.
Tor the purpose Of developing accu-
r4telv the situation as 70 car shortage
and traffic congestion throughout the
country, the Interstate Commerce Com
mission has. for several DAYS past. been
utilizing fully the services Of about Q
hundred Of It's safety appliances. hours
If service and locomotive Inspectors a
rho important terminals IN the country
Reports received by wire from these in
spectors are taken up by the commission
promptly with the carriers affected OF
with the American Railroad Association
for attention.
.eThe commission is in close touch
with the reports received by the Gar
Service Commission Of the American
Railroad Association. Yesterday the com
mission requested by wire the cooper
ation OF the respective State railway
and public service COMMISSIONS IL &c
veIoping the actual situation II each d
the States.
In the last few days complaints anC
requests for assistance have been re-
ceived from shipping interests through
oli+ the country bv letter. by telegraph
through members of Congress, anC
personal appeal. These have been han
died immediately with the carriers anC
in many instances the inspectors of th'
commission have been employed upon
the ground to help break the jam a
some congested point.
Many requests have been received
for information as to whether the com
mission cOntemplates hearings upon tn
application filed 10y numerous important
railroads last SATURDAY., asking the com
MISSION 10 tAEIGlot It's tfliitI ELI if~'fAJAS
under the Transportation act. The com
mission does not contemplate the hold
iuc OF any hearings IN the immediate
future but il expects from time 70 tlIn'
and ;ls the facts develop, TO give sucf
directions as seem warranted and neces
sarv.
Shortage Of labor and shortage 0
equipment are blamed for the present
chaotic situation. Many of the striking
s,eitchinen have not gone back to work
and wherever these men are still "Olt,
congestion obtains In fact, officials 0
th, Interstate Commerce Commission
sax the tieup Is in the wards and ter
IrInals and not on the intervening lines
The outlaws have III many instance
obtained work in automobile and othe
factories at higher wages than they re
ceived while IN the railroad employ
"Outbidding for labor compIcates tn
matter tremendously, one Official sal'
today.
The railroads arc SAID to have oni
30 per cent Of their equipment require
Inents at this time while On the othe
hand since last July, freight tonnag
has been I05 per cent Of what the road
could move One great detclt N ID
transportation facilities IS caused By Tia
5000 freight cars which were move
est during the coal strike last fall
ese cars had never before been Yves
I. . l.