The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1955-07-22
A Montanan's
A Montanan's .
Washington Notebook
By VIC REINEMER

WuSIlIlI9IV
BY VIC REINEMER
The possibly dangerous effect O.
increasing oil imports on Montana!
economy and the national defense
prompted Montana's three Democrats
IN Congress to ask the administration
last week what it plans to do, under
authority it now has, to insure ade-
quate development of the domestic
oil industry.
Senators James E. Murray and
Mike Mansfield and Rep. Lee Met
calf, in a joint letter to the di-
rector of the Office of Defense
Mobilization, noted that oil imports
are running almost 20 per cent
above the 1854 rate, while domestic
production is up only S per cent.
(For State Land Board action urg-
ing curtailment of oil imports, see
VOICE. July 15.-PV EDITOR.)
They recalled administration as
surances that oil imports would not
be permitted to exceed significantly
the ratio imports bore to domestic
crude production last year. These
assurances were stated before Con-
gress gave the president authority to
alter import rates when Congress
extended the Reciprocal Trade Act
this year.
FREIGHT SAVINGS I'm SIGHT?
The Interstate Commerce Commit
tee last week heard witnesses discuss
proposed changes in class rates.
Among the witnesses was Jim Patten,
secretary and counsel for the Mon
tana Board of Railroad Commission
ers.
A freight rate reduction for Mon
tanans may be in sight.
Farmers and big shippers can't ex-
pect much, if any, benefit however.
The proposed change would not af-
feet commodities like wheat but, gen.
orally speaking, only merchandise
shipped less than carload lots. Goods
in this category account for only
about eight per cent of Montana's
freight.
The ICC may reach decision in
about month. 1t will take another
six months or so until the new rates |
are published and put into effect.
What this means then is that
early next year class rates may go
down from Is to 30 per cent.
Changes in classification would
result in some even greater saw
ings.) Biggest savings would go to
residents of western Montana on
goods shipped across the continent.
BOX CAR SHORTAGE
The ICC also took action last week
n the box car shortage.
AS of the week ending July 2 the
reight car shortage reached 1855
ars, compared with 1,947 for the
anne period a year ago. .
In rules to become effective July
5 the ice said empty cars must
e moved from unloading points or !
Interchange tracks of industrial plants !
-ithin "a hours after unloading or I
alease by the consignee, unless the 7
ars are ordered by the shipper for \
within the 24-hour period. Z
oaded cars must be placed on a car a
er's or consignee's unloading tracks a
thin "a hours after the first arrival Y
the destination. And cars taken r
1T of service for repairs must be
xed as soon as possible Consistent
it'll efficient railroad operating
.actices." The ICC order provides 6
mes for failure to observe the regu-
tons.
Elsewhere on the box car front, ;,
House Government Operations sub e
mmittee started hearings, continued =
is week, to find out why the quick .,
x write-off program hasn't resulted =;
production of more freight cars. -
nd probably before this column APP
ars in print, the Senate Commerce 6,
will have decided whether e;
not to proceed with the investiga- -
IN of the box car shortage request -
by Montana's three Democrats in -
DAM ACTIONS ur
~ Ioe 90 IL | Il