Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-17
Washington Ticker
BY the Associated Press.


Railroad traffic forecasts now in
sistently point toward larger volume
of business during the next few weeks
than has been enjoyed in any recent
Summer. Recent appearance of one or
two business representations mention
ing a possible recession in the rate OF
production and distribution Of commodt-
ties has occasioned a recheck of the
American Railway Associations advance
estimates of freight car loadings. but
nothing has been found to sustain the
doubtful view.
This year, railroads have had three
successive Misunderstanding weeks at
a very early date" said H. C. Taylor
manager of the associations traffic esti-
mating department, bearing out the
advance estimate made by the regional
shippers boards, which work out traf-
tic possibilities. Not only has the traf-
fic been of record volume, but it has
been of q character to indicate that
further increase of movement is certain
to be experienced"
Infusion of new blood into manage
ment of the group of railroads they
have now acquired, seems to be steady
policy of the Van Sweringen brothers
l'of Cleveland. A step in the process Is
illustrated by just issued order of the
Interstate Commerce Commission, ap-
proving the election of Charles l..
Bradley, one of their associates, to the
post of chairman of the board in the
Erie system. The new officer is one of
several installed in railroad head
quarters to represent the owners in
operations and finance.
Deadlock remains insistently the
situation as to all important rail con-
solidation proposals for the present, it
appears from another late order of the
commission. The Chicago, Indianapolis
81 Louisville, more commonly known as
the Monon, asked that body to reopen
its general consolidation hearings and
is now given quick and absolute de-
NAL of its motion.
The Monon suggestion was rather in
cidental, since the Southern, which
owns it. was moved to protest against
Baltimore & Ohio demands for inclu-
sion of the Monon with its own system.
This was a detail of general b. & O..
proposal for a huge expansion, which
is still pending. but will not come to
open hearings for many months. The
Southern sharply complained that the
Monon was most valuable constituent
of its own North-and-South traffic
service.
A half dozen formal complaints
against different trunk line railroads
for moving toward control of neighbour
ing small systems have now emerged
from the commission, and only strictly
limited authorizations have been al
lowed for contemplated mergers. The
commission appears to be holding to
the position that until Congress legis-
lates further, railroad consolidation
can be held back.
One important but unusual tariff de-
tail has brought to Washington Henry
C. Hunter and other representatives of
the American Association of Ship Re
pair Yards, to see that their interests
are considered in the tariff bill with
which Congress is struggling. 1t ap-
pears that repairs on American vessels,
if made abroad, by existing law are
subject to a tariff of so per cent ad
valorem when the vessel again comes to
home ports, unless it can be shown that
a first-class emergency made the Amer
lean owner put into the foreign work
ward for assistance. This was designed
to prevent the transfer of ship repair
work almost completely to foreign ports,
yard people say
In the new tariff bill some modifica-
lions are proposed which the aSsocla-
ton fears would enable shipping oper-
ators to get lot more duty-free work
done abroad.