New Britain herald., 1922-05-12
ADVOCATES CONTROL
 0F FREIGHT CARS
Joint Commission of Agriculture
 to Make Recommendations :

Washington. May 12.--Completf standardization of freight cars anc central control of distribution Of al classes of freight cars are among tht principal recommendation to bt made to congress by the point Com mission of Agricultural inquiry as [ result of it's study of the car short age question.
 The standardization of freight cal equipment would in the opinion of the commission reduce the initial cost, de. crease the number of necessary repair parts, facilitate repair work, make possible economies in the mainten- ance of freight car equipment and re- duce unnecessary empty car mileage.
 Central Control.
 Central control of distribution of | freight rolling stock. the commission believes, would enable the railroads to meet currently and in full the re- quirements of shippers in each and every section of the country; to elim- mate all empty car mileage that made necessary to protect originating ter ritory and to meet demands in orig mating territory currently by balanc- ing movement of loaded and empty cars.
 The commission in connection with the recommendation as to central con- trol will say in it's forthcoming re- port that it has found that the Amer 1 ican Railway association whose car service division is empowered to or der relocation of equipment between dc ju pn} o,,% emergency conditions. Just what ma- chinery should be set up to bring about the centralized control is to be left to congress to decide.
 Cnification and Operation.
 Another major recommendation to be made by the commission will be that unification and point operation of facilities be brought about at term inals wherever such unifcation and joint operation will result in economy and better service The commission in it's study has found. according to Chairman Anderson. that since the re- turn of the railroads to private man. agement These unifications of term inal facilities and joint operation at terminals have been in large part abandoned" The carriers" the com mission holds, should effect these consultations wherever possible" and recommendations will be made that the Interstate Commerce Commission investigate and point out to the car riers such consultations as may be feasible.
 Results Of Study.
 Study of the railway equipment question was said todaysby Chairman Johnson to have lead the commission also to the conclusion that there is a shortage of locomotives on some rail- roads and likewise that the supply of box cars, coal cars, stock cars and re- frigerator cars is inadequate to meet the demand during normal periods of activity and should be rapidly aug mented.
 Recommendations.
 Emphasizing the dependence of shippers Of fruit, vegetables and oth- CT perishables upon the refrigerator car supply, the commission in it's re- port to congress. according to the forecast made available today, will recommend:
 Extensive and prompt additions 10 present refrigerator car equipment by each carrier in accordance with it's needs or extension of the equipment and activities of priyate-line car com panies.
 A central control of refrigerator car supply.
 Progressive retirement of the older and inefficient equipment
 Coordinated investigation. by the Department of Agriculture, Interstate Commerce Commission, shippers and the carriers.
 Minor and more technical recom- mendations to be made include:
 Cooperation Necessary.
 That the railroads and shippers CO., operate 10 obtain the full utilization Of the carrying capacity of cars wher- ever possible: that permanent joint railroad and shippers committees be organized to carry on nationwide | 10 reduce loss and damage | 10 goods in transit; that freight-rev- l enue divisions should be promptly re- Vised to the basis of two-fgurc per centages; that regional clearing | houses be established for the current | settlement of debits and credits grow ing out Of rate divisions; that the | railroads should adopt universal through vaybilling Of interline freight: that the railroads maintain cost data covering each item . of expense with particular reference to the maintenance of equipment and that the railroads adopt better sys-