Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-05-19
BANKERS APPEAL
T0END CONGESTION
IN FREIGHT T|E-UP
Present Resolutions to |. c.
c. and Shipping Board
Today.

Urging Immediate steps on the
part Of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission and the Unite d States Ship
ping Board to move commodities tiec
up in transportation on the railroads
of the country. a committee of bank
ers called on Chairman Clark Of the
commission and Vice Chairman Ray.
mond B. Stevens of the Shipping
Board today and presented a resolu-
ton adopted yesterday at a confer
ence with Governor Harding Of the
Federal Reserve Board
Increase in freight rates to build
w, the credit of the railroads j.
asked. Such an increase. it is stated
will tend to relieve imitation of price:
and consequent imitation Of credit
from which "the whole country is
suffering"
Text Of Resolution.
The resolution follows:
The whole country is suffering
from imitation of prices. with the con-
sequent imitation of credit. From the
reports made by the members of this
conference, representing every Sec
ton of the country. it is obvious that
great sums are tied up in products
which IL marketed would relieve ne
cessity. tend to reduce the price Level
and relieve the strain on our credit
system.
This congestion of freight is
found in practically all of the large
railroad 'centers and shipping ports
transportation facilities available at
this time. and is seriously crippling
business. We are informed that the
per ton mile OF freight increased in
three years-1916. 1917 and 191s-47h
per cent. while the freight cars in
service during the same period in
creased 1.9 per cent.
a striking situation exists which
can only be relieved through the up
building Of the credit of the railroads
This must come through adequate and
prompt increase in freight rates. Any
delay means the paying of a greater
cost. directly and indirectly. and
which in the approaching time for
seasonable expansion may cause alb
normal strain. Even under the load
OF war imitation, high-price level and
extravagances the bank reserves
would probably be sufficient il quick
transportation would be assured dur
ing the time of the greatest strain. y
The resolution adds:
That this conference urge as the
most important remedies that the In
terstate Commerce Commission and the
United States Shipping Board give in
creased rates and adequate facilities
such immediate effect as may be war
a committee of five. representing the
various sections of the country, be ap-
pointed by the chairman to present
this resolution to the Interstate Conn
merce Commission and the United
states Shipping Board with such ver-
oai instructions as may seem appro-
PIRATE for the committee"
The resolution is signed by T.. w.
Decker Of Minneapolis. Charles E.
Reiman Of Baltimore, Charles II. Nc
Nider of Chicago. John Perrin of San
Francisco and r. L. Ball of San An
tonic.
Railroads' View Criticized.
Railroads operating through mid
die western coal-producing districts
are interpreting recent emergency or
ders of the Interstate Commerce
Commission in fashion which leads
to serious and dangerous discrimfna-
tton against coal supply to the pub
lie, according to a statement signed
by nearly 100 members of the House
OF Representatives today. A commit
tee headed by Representative Israel
NJ. Foster. republican. Ohio. and in
cluding William Green. secretary of
the United Mine Workers of America,
and John Moore. president Of the Ohio
district Of the same organization and
several congressman, will put the
plea before the commission in person
tomorrow. AS remedy, the state
ment requests the commission to put
In force sections Of the transporta-
ton act which particularly forbid
any preference in the supply Of coal
cars.
Representative Fosters Views.
Unless the practices are stopped
and something is done to remedy the
situation we will have next winter
a coal shortage as bad rs that of
1917" Representative Foster asserted.
While the mine workers are joining
with US in presenting the appeal. the
danger is to the public at large. The
railroads, which consume about 30
per cent of all the coal mined. are
moving the cars in a fashion which
only gets that 80 per cant mined.
The movement of coal over the grea.
lakes has been retarded to the danger
point. and the northwest IS already
suffering from shortage"
Miners are joining in the plea. ac-
cording to the statement Of their rep
resentatives. because the tai.ure to
furnish cars has closed down many
mines and left them out Of employ
ment.
Michigan Men in Conference.
Members of Congress from Michi.
gan accompanied a delegation OF man
ufacturers from that state to a con-
ference this morning with members
Of the commission. The hearing was
closed one. 1t was stated that the
shortage Of coal, due to the tie-up in
transportation, was emp:. nsized by
the manufacturers as threatening in
dustries in that state. Steps to move
coal from the mines was urged.
Reports from the congested rail CEN
ters were under consideration OF
Commissioner G. B. Atchison today
who has been placed in charge Of the
car service. 1t was believed that the
commission is going very slowly with
any sweeping priority orders for the
movement of freight. If jams can be
relieved by cooperation between the
more than 100 inspectors Of the COM
mission who are in the field and the
terminal officials at the points Of con-
gestion drastic steps. such as the is-
suance Of priority orders, will not be
taken, it is thought.
Not as Bad as Month Aro.
1t is shown that while the present
congestion is acute. 1t is not actually
as bad as 1t was month ago. The
peak of the strain was reached ApriI
Is. when the number of cars moved
daily was the lowest and the num-
Der necessary to move higher than
at any time since the congestion be-
gan. The railroads are still far from
Catching up" however. and the re-
suits Of the months of continued
strain on the transportation facilities
are becoming more in evidence.
Although there has been some talk
of a curtailment of passenger traffic
it is not thought the commission will
take such a step unless conditions be-
come worse.
Movement of Empty Cars Begun.
Movement of empty cars toward the
west for grain loading has begun in
large quantities. the commission an
nounced yesterday afternoon The
cars are being moved in solid trains
from the New England states and the
Atlantic seaboard under expedited or