Ogden Standard-Examiner | 1920-05-18 | Page 2 | First Step to Break Freight Tie-up is Taken

FjISTSTEPTO Telegraphic Appeals Sent to All State Railway and Public Pub-lic Service Commissions. BOARDS URGED TO AID GOVERNMENT. Several Hundred Inspectors Assigned to Survey Traffic Traf-fic Conditions. WASHINGTON, May 17. The Interstate Inter-state Commerco commission took its first step today toward breaking the freight blockade. Telegraphic appeals were sont to all state railway and public sen-ice commissions, com-missions, urging them to Join with the Government In lifting the burden, while the commission's Inspectors were put to work to help get accurate data on conditions. Virtually all the several hundred in-spectors in-spectors were assigned to aid in surveying sur-veying traffic conditious at important gateways where the flow of freight traffic was clogged. The commission also expected to be fully informed on the terminal situation by tomorrow uight. Teat For New Transportation Act. Members of tho commission recognized recog-nized that the crisis would prove a real test for the new transportation act and likewise, that the emergency clauses must measure up to the claims of their staunchest supporters if freight m again set to moving smooth- Wlth increasing complaints from shlppors and requests for assistance from railroads, tho commission is un-derstood un-derstood to have determined to go Into the freight tie-up with hammer and tongs. Officials, however, urged patience pat-ience by those watching for immediate immedi-ate results, it may require days, and even weeks, to start anything liko n resumption of normal transportation In its first attempts the commission probably will deal with local situations through individual roads. This was expected ex-pected to last, howovor, only until ? general scheme can be worked out by which priorities and embargoes can be employed. Fuel Situation at Dangor Point. Further suggestions of the roads were given the commission at confer- mm i ciJicoeuutwvea oi tne rail roads and shippers organization offlc-als. offlc-als. Tho fuel situation has been slowly slow-ly developed to tho danger point, representatives rep-resentatives said, and they proposed that the commission establish a gen oral, although counter-movement of coal carB eastward. The commission in a statement, said ,it was keeping in touch with the situation sit-uation through its own representatives, and in co-oporaiion with the roads. The Railway Executives' acsociation has turned over to the commission its fig-ures fig-ures on tho car supply. "In tho last few days," the statement state-ment continued, "complaints and requests, re-quests, for assistance have been received re-ceived from shipping interests. These have been handled immediately with the carriers and In many instances the inspectors of tho commission have been employed upon tho ground to help break the jam at seme congostod point "Many requests have been received for Information as to whether the commission com-mission contemplates hearings upon application filed by important railroads rail-roads last Saturday, asking the commission com-mission to exercise its emergency powers pow-ers under the transportation act. The commission does not contemplate the holding of any hearings in the near future fu-ture but it expects to give such directions direc-tions as seem warranted and necessary.