Evening star., 1941-10-02

rates. Today, he said, the railroads
are moving 10000 barrels a day
East. This increase of $1,000 bar
rels day requires the use of only
1000 tank cars, he said.
Using Only 1000 Cars.
Although about 1000 cars have
been assigned to the Atlantic Sea-
board oil service since l appeared
before your committee" Mr.. Pelley
continued, there still remained on
last Saturday, September 27, a sur
plus of substantially more than TO-
900 cars, over and above a supply
ample to take care of loadings for
two days.
The 10000 barrels of oil per day
which are now moving are being
handled without difficulty. To haul
the entire 200 900 barrels day which
l said we could move would mean
loading of 80 to 80 cars per day.
The railroads are now loading in
excess of 10000 cars per day, so
that this increase in daily loading
would amount to less than 6/l0ths
of l per cent. To handle that pre-
sents no problem for the railroads.
There, gentlemen, are the facts
about the tank car supply and the
ability of the railroads to move the
oil. I had hoped that this discus
sion would be kept on plane Of
the facts about the Oil situation
with which your committee is deal
ing; but statements have been made
to your committee so seriously re-
f1ecting upon the integrity and the
patriotism of railroad representa-
tives, including myself, that I cannot
let them stand in your records, un-
contradicted.
Denies Charges.
"My testimony before your COM
mittee did not impede the movement
Of oil. We have made no effort TO
impose upon this committee, to de-
ceive the American people, to trifie
with the situation or to stand in the
way of national unity. We have
done no more than to tell the facts
and move the oil that has been
offered.
Your committee has been told
that the Association of American
Railroads spends on propaganda and
lobbying activities sums so high as
to be almost incredible, RUNNING to
far over slO0, 900 900 for the period
since 1918.
1T is indeed almost incredible that
any one in a responsible position
should continue to repeat this
statement In view of the record and
OF the number of times that its un-
truth has been expose. 80"
The sums mentioned as having
been spent by the railroads on
propaganda and lobbying activities
were actually those spent through
the years by various association
and committees in doing for the
railroads those things which can be
done better by joint action than they
can by each railroad individually. /"
Mr.. Pelley said. Nearly two-thirds
OF the sum mentioned was spent for
the joint preparation and publica-
ton OF tariffs as required by law.
Other large amounts were spent on
joint research projects, on the Joint
car service work which keeps track
OF freight cars all over the con-
tinent, and on many other activities
OF the sort which no one railroad
can well do for itself.
Does Represent Railroads.
THE Association of American
Railroads does represent the rail-
road industry. 1t represents it be-
fore committees of Congress when
ever and wherever that is necessary
1t presents the facts about the rail
road industry both to Congress and
to the public, through means which
are open and above and well known
BY far the greatest part of its work
however, deals with the direct daily
operation of railroads"
After hearing today's witnesses,
the committee adjourned subject to
the call of the chairman.
AS. Mr.. Ickes completed his day
of testimony, Chairman Maloney
told him he thought the oil CO.
ordinator had dealt unfairly with
the committee in stating that the
committee had hampered. the con-
servation program by its preliminary
report.
Mr.. Ickes replied he regretted