Evening star., 1941-10-03
BY J. A. OLEARY.

agencies could set out TO count thu
idle tank cars on the railroad tracks
of America and come back 1800(
cars apart in their estimates, care.
full reading of the last two days Of
testimony before the Senate Oil In
vestigating Committee may help tt
clear up the mystery.
The committee, which reached the
preliminary conclusion three weeks
ago that there is no shortage in oil
on the Eastern Coast except a short
age in surplus, apparently was not
shaken from that view as it sus-
pended further hearings today to
watch developments.
After hearing Federal Petroleum
Co-ordinator Harold L. Ickes assert
there are not more than 5,192 tank
cars available to increase oil ship
ments to the East, and John J. Pei
ley, president of the Association OF
American Railroads, come back with
a table showing the location of
% ,595 tank cars listed as surplus
in excess of two-day loading re-
quirements, Chairman Maloney
Democrat, Of Connecticut, made this
general comment:
TT doesn't appear to me the hear
ings of Wednesday and Thursday
have materially changed the situa-
ton. II there is any, it seems to
me to be one of improvement.
still feel that, always barring un-
foreseen events, any shortage that
may exist should be quickly over
come"
Others Dispute Shortage.
Senator Burton, Republican, of
Ohio, reached the conclusion there
is mo semblance of a shortage if
the railroads can make good Mr..
Pelley's confident statement that
there are enough tank cars available
to begin transportation within two
weeks. 200 900 barrels of Oil day
to the Eastern Seaboard.
And Senator Barbour, Republican,
of New Jersey. a third committee
member, remarked at the conclusion
of Mr.. Pelley's testimony that it
was very clear and very COM
pelling"
To get back to conflicting esti-
mates of the railroad executive and
the Federal co-ordinator' transpor-
tation experts on tank cars, the rec
ord of the hearings reveals these
factors, which may explain the di-
vergence of figures, at least in part:
Each went to a different source
for their inventory of cars; each
estimate was based on conditions as
Of a different date, three weeks
apart; each conclusion may be based
on a different definition of what
constitutes surplus" car.
Pelley Got Track Figures.
ct judge from the testimony as
presented" Chairman Maloney said
today, that the inquiry of the
Transportation Committee Of the
Federal Co-ordinator's ONCE was
made by wire to the tank car COM
panies, whereas the inquiry of the
Association Of American Railroads
was made by actual examination on
railroad tracks at leading points"
The testimony shows that only a
small percentage of the tank cars
hauled over the rails are owned by
the railroads, and that the Ickes fig
ures were based on a telegraphed
questionnaire to the tank car own
ers
Mr.. Pelley, on the other hand, said
he asked the railroads to make a
check of the tank cars on their
lines, and he filed yesterday a de-
tailed tabulation of the number re-
ported from each loading point
throughout the country, which pro-
duced his higher estimate.
Both surveys were made after Mr..
Pelley gave the Senate his original
prediction on September that there
were approximately 10000 tank cars
available to increase Oil shipments
to the East.
But the record shows that the
transportation subcommittee for
this area, which made Mr.. Ickes' in
ventory, based its report to the
Federal Co-ordinator on conditions
as of September 7. Mr.. Pelley testi-
fled the railroad check-up on which
his figures are based was as of Sat-
urday, September q, three weeks
later.
1883 in Inventory.
One of tho eyhihite nIo ood L., 49,
record by Mr.. Ickes was letter from
c. F. Dowd, chairman of the tank
car subcommittee for this area, in
New York City. 1t was dated Sep
tember IL, and gave the results of
the September 7 check-up with tank
car owners, on which Mr.. Ickes
based his net estimate Of only 5,192
cars available.
Shown in detail in an accom-
panying table, 1t will be noted from
this survey that of the total of
147,838 tank cars reported in the in
ventory, only $500 were owned by
railroads, the majority being owned
by oil companies and tank car leas-
ing companies.
One of the questions that has
arisen in the minds of some of the
Senate investigators is whether the
owners of tank cars are in as good
a position as the railroads to report
on the status of cars after they
have been leased and get out on the
rails.
After giving the Federal Co-ordi-
nator the September I inventory,
showing TIA cars reportAd A rIr.