The Washington times., 1923-02-18
STARTS DRIVE
FOR REPAIRS
on RAILROADS
Department of Justice Charges
That Upward Of Hundred
Lines Are In Bad Order
FOLLOWS AGENTS. REPORT
Failure to Reinstate Strik-
ing Shopmen In Many In.
stances Is Given as Cause
~ unIver.al service.


The Department Of Justice yes
terday launched nationwide
drive to compel railroads to Inn
Inediately place their equipment
IN safe condition for the travel
ing public and employees.
This action followed an investi-
cation by special agents which
showed that upward of 100 rail
roads are not complying with
Federal statutes regarding inspec-
ton and repair Of equipment, it
was announced.
SEEKS COURT ORDER.
Officials representing the various
roads are to be brought into court
and ordered Immediately to comply
with the law or face prosecution.
Attorney General Harry M. Daugh-
erty personally directed the inquiry.
Complaints against the railroads
originated with the Interstate Com
merce Commission and the railroad
brotherh0ods Immediately following
the shop strike, it was stated. The
available and asked the department
to make an inquiry with the object
OF taking suitable action.
The Texas and Pacific railroad was
selected from a large group as being
the most flagrant violator of the
statutes on the evidence furnished.
A large number Of special agents
were sent to various parts OF the
line. where they secured positions in
shops and roundhoIses and studied
the equipment.
ROAD ORDERED TO COMPLY.
This investigation was completed
two weeks ago and the charges of
the brotherhoods and the Interstate
Commerce Commission were sub.
Istantiated to q large extent, the De-
partment Of Justice announced. The
inquiry was then shifted to other
railroads. ~
The receivers of the Texas and
Pacific were directed immediately>tc
employ such additional laborerS a.
to put locomotives and car equip.
ment into such condition as to in.
sure the safety OF employees, the
travelling public, United States mails
and transportation Of property.
The Attorney General ordered the
inquiry before he was confined to
his home by Illness and has directed
that he be kept informed Of the
progress of the investisaSlOn on
other railroads.
From his home yesterday he 10.
sued statement saying the court
action In the Texas and Pacific case
! in entirely in keeping with the policy
Of the Administration to enforce the
laws governing operation Of the rail
roads.
THE railroads are required by
law to provide proper equipment
Mr.. Daugherty said. "For more than
| a month had looked into conditions
on the Texas and Pacific and some
other railroads and found that equip
ment apparently was defective and
insufficient"
MANY LINES IN BAD ORDER.
Charges Of bad-order equipment
apply to more than 100 Of the
larger railroads in the country
but are not limited to those on
which the shop strike has not
been settled, which number about
100, it was learned Of the Inter
state Commerce Commission. The
majority of. them are railroads
which refused to re-employ the
striking shopmen and have not
yet been able to recruit their forces
sufficiently, 1t was learned.
This situation IL said to have
been discussed with tho President
yesterday by Daniel Willard. pres.
ident Of the Baltimore & Ohio.
1t also brought together the legal
council Of the Association Of Rail.
way Executives, who discussed
plans Of combating the threatened
Federal court Gction should it be
deemed advisable to do 90.