Show THERE mERE IS NO LAW N REED SAYS IN RAil PROBE Senate Committee Told Priority Priority Priority Orders Caused All Freight Congestion By John C. C Mellett International News Service Staff Cor Cor- respondent WASHINGTON Dec 29 Congressional today for the first time since President Wilson announced the commandeering of the railroads of the nation took up the railroad question I Henry C. C Hall lIan chairman of the in interstate interstate interstate in- in commerce commission and L. L A. A Snead distribution agent for the fuel administration predicted that under under under un un- un- un der full fun government control all congestion congestion congestion con con- will be ironed out Chairman Hall testified before the senate interstate commerce commit commit- I tee He blamed extreme congestion of traffic on ri the government A superfluity superfluity superfluity super super- of priority orders caused all an the tIle I trouble he said Too many bureaus called caned for rush freight and the roads naturally could not give precedence precedence pre pre- to everything Army and navy freight was commonly billed hilled rush and ship building materials were also ls labeled that way it ap ap- ap The priority board of which Judge Lovett is chairman had difficulty difficulty difficulty culty establishing real priority when it issued a formal order in behalf of any anyone one commodity or industry SEIZURE BENEFICIAL Seizure of the roads will prove beneficial beneficial beneficial ben ben- to the roads and to transportation transportation tran por tation conditions generally Ch Chairman Chairman Chair Chair- man Hall Ball said While Chairman Hall was testifying testifying testifying testify testify- ing Mr Snead was on the stand for forthe forthe forthe the senate manufacturers subcommittee tee teo showing howin h how w the railroad situation situ situa tion had affected the coal problem So many priority orders were i issued suel by tho the government he said that it was practically impossible to get zet et coal moved even with the aid of still further fur fur- thor thAT orders We asked Judge Lovett for Id and he lIe pave JaVA us a stone sli slid said Mr Mid Snead It Is my theory that nassen- nassen pcr Jer and all other traffic must give ive way for coal for a a. time If this Isn't ef ef f reacted we will have a coal famine rather than a coal l shortage e. e Additional equipment must be provided provided provided pro pro- vided for the roads he said mentioning men- men the tho simply of en engines nes and Inel c cars rs built for tho HIp French and nd Russian o- o go s. s These can be bo taken and ad- ad lusted for use on the American Americ n lines Unes in a short time he declared The New nd coal shortage is to bo bp relieved Mr Speed Sneer adde hy iv 11 use P. P of water Negotiations T are now under way to obtain in from rom the navy a number of p s-go- s co a-co- ing ing- tugs tugs that c cm can ln h handle the M c coal barges barles accumulated in the Delaware river IS NO LAW Mr 11 Snead started to resume discussion discussion discus discus- sion alert of the coal shortage e with an expression ex ex- starting but the law when Senator Reed presiding interrupted him with But this Is a day when there is no law Chairman n Reed adjourned the hearin hearing hearing hear hear- in ing until next Wednesday At that time Food Administrator Hoover is expected to be to testify on the sugar situation Senator Cummins who did most of the Questioning in the railroad investigation investigation investigation today said the interstate commerce commerce com corn merce commission will resume its probe l Monday v with Chairman Hall of the commission on the stand a again Other commissioners also will be present present present pres pres- I ent to testify |