The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-08-16
MUST OBEY LAWS
OF MOTIVE POWER

Washington, Aug. ,15.-Motive pow.
er upon Certain of the important car.
riers of the country" because of the
present strike, is progressively de.
teriorating, Chairman McChord of the
interstate commerce commission in.
formed President Harding tonight
and in a letter of reply was told by
the president "to insist upon the full
enforcement of the law"
Inspection forces Of the government
should exert themselves to the ut
most, the president said, because il
is better to have service diminished
rather than attempt any movement
Of trains on which safety is rot as
sured.
The commissioner informed the
president that in enforcing the safety
provisions of federal law 1--WE 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
portation" had been called to his at
tention and that nothing could be
done except "to insist upon the full
enforcement Of the law" The CORE
spondence as given out by Chairman
McChord follows:
Dear Mr.. President:
''In the administration and enforce
ment of the locomotive inspection and
related safety appliance acts of con.
gress, the commission has observed
with concern the. progressive detcri-
Grafton of motive power upon certain
of the important carriers of, the coun-
try since July L, 1922, and during the
present strike. The effect of deferred
repairs is cumulative and becomes in.
creasingly felt as time goes on. The
acts which we are called upon to ad.
ministrate leave little discretion with
the commission as to enforcement
when violations come to light. In
.the continuance Of oar enforcement Of
Che iASS6 we Are takfpg Steps and viii
be compelled to continue to proceed
in manner which must bring about
serious withdrawals of motive power
from service. Certain violations Of
the acts we report to the attorney
general for appropriate legal action
With continuance Of existing condi
tions they, 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"
"Mv Dear Chairman McChord:
81 have yours of even date in whicl
YOU call to nv attention to the pro
gressive dcter' ration Of motive pow
er upon some cf the important rail
road lines of the country as the out
growth Of the prevailing strike. Thu
growing menace 10 maintained trans
portation has ben called to my at
tcntion unofficially in various ways
Under all the circumstances / know
Of nothing to he done except to insis
rpon the full enforcement of the law
1t is a very natural thing under cir
cumstances which exist at the presen
moment to waive the exactions in be
half of the safety in seeking to main
tain transportation. In my jodgmen
it is better to have the service dimin
ished rather than attempt the move
ment of trains on which safety is no
assured so far as compliance with tn
law may provide it. trust thai -"n
inspection forces will exert then,
selves to the utmost in order to b
able to pass upon safe equipment, be
cause the official sanction Of the gov
ernment will remove all questions O
dispute Every truly yours,