Evening star., 1922-07-26


properly handling the trafic offered
them by the public, because of fuel
and labor troubles. the Interstate
Commerce Commission, at a meeting
yesterday, ISSUED orders taking over
control of the routing of all further
shipments until otherwise ordered,
starting today.
The text Of the first order follows:
The subject of routing of freight
traffic being under consideration. and
it appearing to the Commission. that
an emergency exists upon the lines of
all carriers by railroad In the United
States subject to the Interstate Com
merce act. which requires Immediate
action. and that each of such carriers,
by reason of unfavorable labor con-
ditions, and shortage Of fuel supply.
Is unable to transport the traffic Of
fered 1t SO as to properly serve the
public.
Therefore, in order best to promote
the service in the interest of the
public and the commerce of the peo-
pie, it Is ordered and directed:
Direct Routes Ordered.
1. That from and after July rs,
1922, and until the further order or
direction of this Commission, all said
common carriers by railroad are
hereby directed to forward traffic to
destination by the routes most avail
able to expedite it's movement and
prevent congestion, without regard
to the routing thereof made by ship
pers or by carriers from which the
trafHc Is received, or to the ownership
OF the cars, and that all rules, reg
ul1tions. and practices of said car
hereby suspended and superseded in
so far only as conflicting with the
directions hereby made.
:. That inasmuch as such disregard
OF routing is deemed to be due tc car
riers' disability. the rates applicable
to traffic so forwarded by routes other
than those designated by shippers, or
by carriers from which the traffic is
received. shall be the rates which
were applicable at date of shipment
the rates applicable over such desig-
mated routes are higher. in which
event the rates applicable over the
route of movement will apply.
Private Cars Affected.
J. That in each instance where the
trafhc is routed. or rerouted. by car
r!ers by railroad under the authority
of this order, the carriers responsible
for such routing or rerouting shall,
within twenty-four hours thereafter,
deposit in the Upited States mail,
notice addressed to the consignee of
and initials. places and dates Of ship
ment. the routing, and respective
routes over which the traffic is NOV
ing. and that charges for the trans
porta:ion of the traffic including
transportation, and schedules of rates.
fares and charges. as those terms are
defined in said act. will be the same
as they would have been IL such rout-
ing. or rerouting had not taken place.
unless. as above provided for. the
rates applicable over the route the
traffic moves is less.
4. That in the case of shipments in
private cars, which are subject to
equalization of empty mileage. and
also of fruits and vegetables, live
poultry and other shipments CUSTOM
arily reconsigned upon instructions
of the consignor. telegraphic notice
OF the diversion shall be sent to the
consignor by the carrier responsible
therefor.
Contracts Disregarded.
5. That in executing the directions
order. the common carriers involved
shall proceed without reference to
contracts. agreements. or arrange
ments now existing between them
with reference to the divisions of the
rates of transportation applicable to
said traffic; that such divisions shall
be, during the time this order remains
in force, voluntarily agreed upon by
! and between said carriers. and that
upon failure of the carriers to SO
agree. said divisions shall be here
after fixed by the commission in ac-
cordance with pertinent authority
conferred upon it by said act.
Text of Second Order.
In appearing-In the opinion of the
commission that an emergency which
requires immediate action exists upon
the lines of each and all the common
carriers by railroad subject to the
interstate commerce act, east of the
Mississippi river. including the west
of the inability of said common car
riers properly and completely to serve
the public in the transportation of
essential commodities. 1t is ordered
and directed;
1. That each such common carrier
by railroad, to the extent that 1t is
currently to be unable promptly to
transport all freight traffic offered to
it for movement, or to be moved over
/ it's line or lines of railway shall be
movement of each of the following
commodities: food for human con-
4 cumption feed for live stock live
stock. perishable products, coal. coke
| and fuel OIL
2. That to the extent any such COM
mon carrier by railroad Is unable un-
der the existing interchange and car
service rules, to return cars to its
connections promptly. 1t shall give
preference and priority in the move
|
turn of empty cars intended to be
used for the transportation of the
commodities specially designated IN
paragraph numbered 4 hereof.
Must Supply Needed Cars.
g. That any and all such common
carriers by railroad which serve coal
mines whether located upon the line
or lines Of any such railroad or Gus
tomarily dependent upon it for car
supply. herein termed coal-loading
carriers. be. and they are hereby. au-
thorized and directed whenever un-
able to supply all uses in full. to fur
nish such coal mines with open top
cars suitable for the loading and
transportation of coal, in preference
to any other use, supply movement.
distribution, exchange, interchange or
return of such cars, provided. that
the phrase suitable for the loading
and transportation Of coal" as used in
this order shall not include or en-
brace fat (hxed) bottom gondola cars
with sides less than thirty-six inches
in height inside measurement. or cars
equipped with racks or cars which. on
July /. 1922. had been definitely re-
tired from service for the transporta-