New-York tribune., 1922-12-08
Freight Traffic
Gains Steadily,
Ice. Reports
Cannot Yet Estimate Effect
Of Rate Cuts on Earnings
of Carriers, Says COmmis.
sion's Annual Statement
S85, 900 Due Roads
S m a Her Appropriations
Quota Will Greatly Re
strict Work Next Year


WASHINGTON. Dee. IAN in
creased scope 81 activities. due par.
italy 20 enlarged responsibilities put
UPON Il BY legislation Of recent years,
and partially 70 use Of emergency
powers required by industrial dlstur-
Dances In recent months, was de-
seribed to-day In the annual report o.
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
Together With rs usual work IN reg
ulatlon Of railroad rates and service,
the commission reviewed operations
by which II assumed some degree Of
actual control OF railroads during the
summer period of emergency ocea-
stoned by the double strike in the coal
mines and In the railroad shops; pre-
sented summaries OF results In its
supervision Of railroad securities, and
forecast the outlook for hnGl conclu'
sion Of the protraeted settlements OF
financial accounts between the govern
mont and the railroads arising out ol
the Federal control during the war
It's major action in the rate hxinI
aeld, the report said, was the 10 pei
cent reduction in freight charges or
dered last July.
Trsfic Volume Increasing
"Manifestly, the existing rates are
no longer interfering with the free how
Of commerce as a whole" the report
said. "Ths tonnage moving has beer
steadily increasing in recent months
Little opportunity has been afforded
FOR determination Of the effect Of th'
reduced rate level upon the net earn
inEs Of carriers because Of freight con
Testion and other abnormal conditions
which have resulted from the Goa
strike, the shopmen's strike and othel
causes"
The report reviewed how the com
mission, TO meet the "menneing domes
tie and industrial consequences OF th'
strikes" had put priority orders int
eject. and eo-operaied with the en-
ergeney organization Of the Fedora
fuel distribution once. Though eondi
/ tions Of disrepAlr Of equipment grew
most serious on some important trunl
lines" before the strikes wore out
was said the commission had not foun'
n necesSary 20 lay cmbargoes, or 70
sort 20 the more extreme measure
which Congress legal.Eed while N
danger was greatest. .
In lie more traditional he'd-th
regulation OF rates and eryice-th
commission was enabled during th
wear 20 reach a basis % co-operotiy
Understanding With state commiss on
and regulatiye bod es, the report sal,
and for the plan devised, hope OF u
innate success was expressed u M
!. Llso moved 20 require experimental II
stallation Of aut matte tr'in eohtr'
systems by 4 large number OF RAJ
roads, for accident prevention and ma
laid the basis for comparative studle
Of efficiency In railroad operation
Approves ssss,7is,7lO Securities
Control Of railroad security issue
vested In the commission, resulted !
It's approval during the year OF stock
and bonds having a total par valua
tion of tss9,7i9,7i0. with some add
tional issues having no par value, or
value expressed in foreign eurrencie'
The Illinois Central and Chesapeake
Ohio railroads, the commission sale
had given "enc luraging indication" !
the held Of railroad finance by demon
stratlng that new capital could b
secured for their expansions by ia
suance Of stock. instead OF BY IN
creases Of bond Indebtedness.
Discussing the Reimbursement q
railroads which incurred losses in on
erations during the first six month
after their return from government
10 private control, the report said ths
up 70 October 81 last total ptymvnt
Of I50.073.045 on that Account h'l
been authorized from the Treasurl
sums still payable 70 The carriers. VIII
we're guaranteed reimbursement 10
such losses. the commission estimate
AZ ss5 e26 900. The report also e.
pressed the conclusion that the furthe
loans % railroads authorized By th
q lrAnhpoflhAlOn hct HoAiu hNF t"fNtf
much money.
Reductions In its estimates for aI
propriations made by the Bureau q
/ BuA-et oceasioned the commission
recommend formally 20 Congress th'
amounts be given II Sufficient 70 me'
our absolutely necessary requirements
For the current fiscal year its aopr'
priations were S5.046,650, the comm,
sion said, and for next year u woul
require t520<,500. Though the Bud-e
Director had recommended that th
amount be reduced 70 tt,4sibOO. Wit
this smaller amount. the report SAT-
ths commission would be forced
defer or greatly restrict work"
Congress was further requested
enact LEGISLATION 20 make Il criminal
bribe railroad employees 20 give pre-
erenee IN car supply, 10 increase u,
Of all-steel passenger cars BY railroad
and 20 clarity sections of the existin
transportAtlon act In relation 10 pro
uosed consolidation Of ra lroads'