Show 7 ST STATES ACTION b Iway ay and nd Public Service I Aid Sought I Burden on oil Roads I Lift It ou I t ch ich Reaches a a Crisis I w II I By Br LI tt Press TOX May 17 Ii The interstate commerce commiS- commiS took its first step today toward th Bang the freight bt blockade I appeals were sent to toj toI j I tate railway and public service with i missions urging them to join in lifting the burden to 1 th the commissions commission's inspectors put ut to work to help b get t accurate on w conditions i all the several h hundred d Ini inI In- In I I i tan ra were assigned to aid In sur- sur Eng conditions at Important I ways where the flow of ot freight tic fie was Wu clogged d. d The commission expected to be fully tully Informed on oni i terminal situation by tomorrow ht to Provide Test TeAt f of the commission J d d. d that the the crl crisis is would pro provide Ide a aEl aI El I test fest for tor tho the new transportation act V likewise that the emergency es must measure ure up to the claims their staunchest supporters If it Iff f ht is again set Bet to moving smooth- smooth f t Pith Sitti increasing complaints from and requests for bra m In railroads the commission is un- un 1 tood to have hac determined to go SO Into freight freight up tic with hammer and Jigs g gs Officials however urged pance pance pa- pa an a- a n nce ce by br those watching for immedi- immedi l i since It ma nay may require dason days das I even on weeks to start anything like Uke resumption of normal I- I ocal l n nits Its first finst attempts tho the commission babl bably will deal with local al situations It T ough ush ough roads This was wasI I to last how however cr only until a eral scheme can can be worked ou out t b by eh n priorities s and embargoes can be Il p pl ie i further r suggestions of or the roads fit given lV n the commission at confer- confer I pcs s. s with representatives of tho the rall- rall ts Os 1 and shippers' shippers organization I Is Ls Th The Tbt fuel situ situation lIon has slowly led to 10 the danger ane- ane point t said and arid they proposed that I i commission establish a general alpough al- al ugh co ent n of of coal cars stward The If-The Tie r e coU In a statement said was was aa Keeping in iii touch with the tho situ situ- d Ion Ion through Im Its own representatives P in operation co-operation with tho the roads roah flo 0 0 American n n Hallway associations association's j t r service ser has turn turned d oer o t to tho the com com- on Pago 2 AL STEP TO ro 1 BETTER ITTER RAILROAD CONDITIONS TAKEN 1 Federal Officials to Use All 1 Means Ieans Possible in Rei Relieving Re- Re i lieving 10 Continued from Pago Page 1 mission Us its figures on Oil the car supply 1 Complaint Get Attention In tho last st v fe dL days das th the sta statement state state- tem te- te m ment continued complaints and re requests requests re- re quests for have 0 been received from shipping Int Interests These have ha I Ib b be been handled Immediately with tho carriers car car- I and and In man many Instances the In- In o of the commission have o avo been I employed upon th the ground to help b hr r r i the jam a at some congested point quests for assistance have been received Information as to whether tho the commission com com- mission contemplates hearings upon the application the vl J b by Important railI railroads rail rail- I roads ls last Saturday asking the tho com corn Mission r to exercise Its emergency pow- pow I us the tho transportation act The c ls lon docs not contemplate the theof of in the tle near I any i but it expects to give Ive such dl- dl I a as seem warranted and l IE E Favor I V age Increases I Chicago May ra 17 Wac o Wage advances I hould be be- granted to many railroad oad workers to enable 3 them to meet th the I IJ J pugh l h cost of Qt living the tho Association of or Hallway Executives declared toda today In I opening statement before beCore the ra rn tord or board j 1 i V. V Whiter chairman of or the confer confer- enc ence committee of or rail managers of the executives executives' association told the board that some sonic part of or the wage demands Ireine made nado b by railway em- em s 's probably would be found Cound to be justified b by the rise riso in the cost of oC liv- liv I I I ingi Agreement As of or the railroads themselves themselves them them- selves that at least a part of the men should have havo m more re mone money is expected to toBO togo BO go far toward expediting early settlement settle seUle- ment of the controversy which culminated culini- culini last month In the series of strikes b br by disgruntled Tile THe demands demands' now before the tho board aggregate ate more than a billion dollars a y I year ar in addition to a billion dollars Advance during the war and a advance ance In the two years prior to government control according to Mr Ir Whiter He presented figures figure to show the thaL-the railroad payroll had increased f per cent of or the gross ro s earnings earn earn- ings of the roads in 1915 t to per percent cent last st y year ar ln lD Increase Not ot Wb appreciate tull fully Mr 11 Whiter Whiter zal said that sai that it tile tho increases received b by e es In the tiui last ast five years riot been r with the Increases se In the cost of living I. I fc Wb Wp appreciate late also t that ll th ther re are arc other employ i who are arc receiving rates which cannot inot bo be considered at all low hi tn an- an ana absolute an-absolute a absolute sense ense yet ct do not comparo compare favorably in 11 some localities paid similar occupations pa ons in outside industries Wo Vo cannot of ot course hope hOp to compete com corn comI I pete with outside rates cent for cent per npr should this bo be considered necessary ry C Consideration must be I to th the tho greater rel regularity and continuity of or employment in railroad railroader er e to the greater stability of ot railroad rail rall- road rates of ot wages when once established and and to other attractive features gt gf f railroad employment Penk IK Is I The great real Increase in the cost o of liv liv- fog ing ng Mr Whiter said was an ail evident fact and wage adjustments must take this ta factor tor Into account But Dut ho he said the peak in the cost com of living had been ably een reached and that the board must consider the situation which had Been brought about when tho the cost of declined On this subject he heIt heia ia said Id It ls ll It Is not at all intended here to sa say thal- thal Hatan any wage rates th that t your board n ar award to meet the tho increased cost o of JI In living should should be taken talen a away wa its its-a Again In as fast and In the same percent percent- Sc as geas as the cost of ot living 1 comes down I hi would be bc In effect to decree that tal remain In the thc same comparative comparative- situation they were iti before your our award We Ye are not nol aSkIn askin aSk aSk- In or suggesting this 11 but hUl If ft a as ag costs H df living go down towards toward the war pre Tasis a less than proportionate de- de y-c y a in n basic wages w were rc provided for I the would be better off as with war pro conditions in spite of such reductions I Tho The new transportation act provides es SIr mr Whiter said that an any substantial rn In wages must result In Int In- In t rates to the public for lor railroad service For eVer every added to 11 the payroll about 3 per cent must be bc added lidded to freight rates he said ald The fhe are now before the interstate oM commission asking for an increase of s per cent larely to provide provide pro pro- vide Id f for Or r the dollar billion payroll advance ad ad- vance anc nude government c control and ld-I ld dlf 1 m Iou |