Evening star., 1922-08-16
LACK OF REPAIRS
seen RAIL Peril
Il. C. c. Head Notifies Presi-
dent and Is Told to Insist
on Enforcement.

Motive power upon certain of the
| important carriers of the country"
| because of the present strike, is pro-
| gressively deteriorating. Chairman
McChord of the Interstate Commerce
Commission informed President Hard
ing last night. and in a letter of re-
! ply was told by the President ito in
, sist upon the full enforcement of the
law"
Inspection forces of the govern
| ment should exert themselves to the
utmost. the President said. because
II is better to have service diminish
than attempt any movement Of trains
on which safety is not assured.
, The commissioner informed the
President that in enforcing the safety
provisions of federal law I'VE are
| taking steps and will be compelled
to continue to proceed in a manner
which must bring about serious with
drawals of motive power from serv-
ice"
The President responded that the
growing menace to maintained trans
portatfon" had been called to his at
tention. and that nothing could be
done except ito insist upon the full
enforcement Of the law
Conditions Cause Concern.
The correspondence. as given out by
Chairman McChord. follows:
Dear Mr.. President: In the admin
istratfon and enforcement of the loco
motive inspection and related safety
appliance acts of Congress the COM
mission has observed with concern
the progressive deterioration Of mo-
tive power upon certain of the i'm
portant carriers of the country since
July !, 1922. and during the present
strike. The effect of deferred repairs
is cumulative and becomes increasing
ly felt as time goes on. The acts
which we are called upon to admins
ter leave little discretion with the
commission as to enforcement when
violations come to light. In the con-
tinuance of our enforcement of the
law We are taking steps and will be
compelled to continue to proceed in a
manner which must bring about seri-
Gus Withdrawals of motive power
from service. Certain violations OF
the acts we report to the Attorney
General for appropriate legal action
With a continuance OF existing condi-
tions these will be increasingly fire.
Quent.
Knowing your interest in the mat.
ter we felt you should be advised of
the facts Faithfully yours.
&c c. McCHoRD. Chairman"
Reply Of President.
my Dear Chairman McChord:
Il have yours of even date In which
you call to my attention the progress
sive deterioration of motive power
upon some of the important railroad
lines Of the country as the outsrowth
of the prevailing strike. This grow
ing menace to maintained transporta-
tion has been caffed to my attention
unofficially In various ways. Under
all the circumstances 1 know of moth
ing to be done except to insist upon
the full enforcement of the law. II
Is a very natural thing under circum
stances which exist at the present
moment to waive the exactionS in
behalf OF safety in seeking to main
tain transportation. In my judg
ment IT is better to have the service
diminished rather than attempt the
movement of trains on which safety
is not assured SO far as compliance
with the law may provide 1t. / trust
that your inspection forces will ex-
ert themselves to the utmost in order
to be able to pass upon safe equip
ment. because the official sanction
Of the government will remove all
questions Of dispute.
VERY truly yours.
WARREN G. HARDING"