Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1920-05-19
Rn sp<ciaI Correspondens

M SrErfui GOTTcspOHucHL
WASHINGTON, May 19-Although
legally the railroads are still In the
hands of their owners, control of the
roads of the United States was taken
over by the government today, and
as a result of this move gigantic
effort is already under way to relieve
the freight congestion which has
worked so much harm to business
during the past few weeks.
Through orders issued by the In
terstate Commerce Commission solid
trains of empty freight cars are being
rushed across the country from east
to west and vice versa. These empty
cars will be used TO move the great
amount of traffic which has piled up
ut terminal points since the OUTLAW"
strike.
The empty freight cars are being
sent west from New England for the
transportation of grain, while those in
the west will distributed in the
eastern coal districts.
In order to aid the movement OF
freight the commission has assumed
control of the passenger service ana
forewarnihg of a radical curtailment
i'm passenger traffic TO add to the
available facilities for the movement
of essentials already has been sent
out, Ii Is expected that the taking
off of passenger trains VIII be com
cident with the PRONUNCIATION or pri-
ority olders for the movement or es-
antials.
Even with the passenger traffic
curtailed. officials are of the opinion
that unless there is a great change
for the better in the labor situation IL
will require months to clear up the
congestion of freight. According to
statement by Clyde b. Aitchison.
a member of the commission man
power for the railroads Is the only
agency that can relieve the existing
conditions
The empty cars are being moved
In solid train loads under orders and
their movement Is watched continually
To avoid any preventable delay In get
ting the equipment where 1t Is most
needed.
Wages to BE Increased
II became apparent today, wnen
| the United States Railroad lahtr
Board started the second day OF It's
| final hearings that the brotherhoois'
ie mand for increased wages would
be granted either wholly or partis .
and that the public would be asked
to pay the bill.
Il. r. Whittier, chairman of the con-
ference committee of the railroads.
managers offered hundreds of statis-
teal tables to show how the rail-
workers wages had been increased IN
the last two years and compared the
various wage scales asked with those
! now I'm force. His tables showed the
| men ask increases ranging from hfty
! to seventy per cent. 1t appeared
from his testimony that wage In
creases ranging from thirty to forty
five per cent. might be granted to
| the 100000 workers. This would
boost the annual payroll of the
country's railroads approximately ST.
/ 600, 900, 900 a year. !.
! If the raise Is granted the men, II
Is said. that the railroads Will ap-
pear before the lnterstates Commefce
| Commission and ask permission 10
| increase the rates. using as their ar
gument the increase in wages grant
| ed the men. 1t is understood thai
I the roads are prepared to ask foi
! rate increases ranging from forty 10
I fifty per cent. and 1t Is foregone
! conclusion that they viii get sub
| stantial rate increase