New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-05-18
Rail and Public Service
Boards i'm All States Are
Asked to Help; Survey
of Clogged Terminals
Fuel Situation
At Danger oint
Commerce Co1a,rs,;gs:ss1
TO Use Full Emergency
Power to Move Cars

WASHINGTON, May 17.-Steps
were taken to-day by the Interstate
Commerce Commission and by lead
ers in Congress to relieve the ma
tion-wide freight tie-up and prevent
a permanent crippling of traffic and
industry.
The commission directed its in
spectors throughout the country t.
report Immediately on the extent Of
the congestion in their respective
districts. The commission also ap-
pealed to state Public Service Com.
missions to cooperate in relieving
the congestion.
Emergency Steps Planned
Although Withholding action on
the appeal of the railroads for the
establishment of priorities for food
and other hecessaries, the commits
sion indicated that the emergency
powers granted by the new transpor-
tation act would be invoked by the
end Of the week if the reports from
inspectors show that step necessary
to break the tie-up.
Priority orders for the movement
of perishable foodstuffs and other
necessaries Will be given in specific
cases where that action is deemed
necessary to prevent loss and to re
lieve shortages in supplies of necessa-
ries, Commissioner A. B. Aitchison
said. He added, however, that such
orders would be made only in scat
tered cases of congestion.
Representatives of the railroad ex-
ecutives conferred with members OF the
Appropriations and Interstate Com
merce committees of the Senate and
House. Tentative plans were made for
Legislation to assist the railroads in
financing new equipment to help them
recover from the present lack of roll
ing stock.
Food Supplies Being Moved
The food supplies of cities that we're
threatened with shortage of food
stufs because Of traffic conditions are
being moved now reports to the com
A new danger loomed to-day. how-
ever, when reports indicated that IN
less fuel can be moved industrial plants
may suffer.
The commission Immediately in
structed its agents and inspectors to
help in getting fuel cars under way,
especially in the Eastern part of the
country. The Ore and Coal Exchange,
with headquarters at Cleveland, was
Il Inv. h.,
plan of joint pool in coal and ore
that was in effect in 1918, in order TO
relieve the situation temporarily.
The following statement was made
tonight by the commissions:
Many complaints and requests for
assistance have been received from
shipping interests throughout the
country by letter, by telegraph.
through members of Congress and by
personal appeal. These have been han
died with the carriers. and in many in
stances the inspectors Of the commits
sion have been employed upon the
ground to help break the jam at CON
gested points.
The commission to-day advised the
Ore and Coal Exchange that there is
a necessity for cooperation between the
carriers and shippers in handling coal
and ore upon the railroads and lakes,
along the lines followed in 1915, By
means of the creation OF an effective
coal and ore pool, saying that the
records show that continuance OF
existing arrangements means far
reaching hardship and perhaps disas-
ter and suggesting that as an initial
step the interested parties should re-
establish Immediately a similar ar
rangement to that in effect in 1913"
Rail Officials Lend Help
Officials of the railroad companies ars
working with the commission and as
sisting in breaking freight tie-ups at
several points.
More than $50 agents of the car
service. sections have been working on
the railroads for at least a week check
ing up the situation and it is on their
reports. which are just beginning to
come IN. that the commission is de
pending for its information. 1t was
announced to-day that no hearings are
contemplated for the immediate future.
but that as facts develop such direc-
tlons 4s may seem necessary will be
given from time to time
The commission, in another state
ment, SAID its representatives were CO.
operating with the railroads to keen
IN touch with every phase of the sit
uatlon. The car service committee OF
The American Railroad Association has
turned over figures on the car supply
IN the different localities
"in the last few days." the state.
ment continued, complaints and re-
quests for assistance have been re-
celved from shipping interests through
out the country, by letter, by teie-
graph, through members of Congress
and by personal appeal. These have
been handled Immediately with the
carriers and in many instances the in
spectors OF the commission have bean
employed upon the ground to hein
break the jam at some congested point.
ne commission to-day advised the
ore and coal exchange, with heaSuuar-
ters at Cleveland, that there ;s
present necessity Tor cooperation be-
tween the carriers and shippers ia
handling coal and ore upon the rail-
roads and lakes along the lines fol-
lowed IN 1918, by means Of the crea-
uon o. an effective coai and ore pool.
saying that 'rhe record shows that con,
''F''t1 cen eats
nd per-