The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1907-07-24
WHAT IS NEEDED
RAILROAD COMMISSION DE-
MANDs MORE POWER.
WILL ASK AID OF CONGRESS
Would Control capitalization to pre-
vent Watering Of Corporation
Stocks.

shington.-Franklin X. Lane, a
member of the Interstate Commerce
| Commission, gave out prepared inter-
view. designed to let the railroads,
and the public generally, know what
| the commission wants in the way of
further federal legislation to extend
the functions of that body to the point
nearest perfect usefulness to the coun-
try. MI Lane does not pretend to
speak officially on behalf of the com
mission as whole, but a poll of the
individual members would reveal
views practically identical with those
held by Mt Lane. Commissioner Lane
says that now that the commission
has gained a really practical point of
usefulness, legislation is needed to-
cover the following important points
demanded to reach completion:
The commission wants the power to
make rules governing such matters as
the furnishing of cars to shippers.
1t wants the power to control the
movement of cars at a minimum ratio
after they are loaded.
1t wants to have plenary power to-
control the matter of the capitalization
Of railroads.
1t wants to be given power to pre-
vent the watering of railroads stocks.
1t wants more power governing the
movement of freight TO consignees.
These points in brief" explained
Commissioner Lane, cover the most
important features of railroading over
which the commission desires to have
comprehensive authority.
1T was held by the Supreme Court.
as is gen ,rally known" ne continued,
that prior to recent enactment the
commission was without power TO fix
rates in way that would mean relief
to shippers. Under an act OF the last
Congress. express companies and sleep
ing car companies were brought un
der the jurisdiction of the commission.
I'VE have exercised the power on ex
press companies" continued Commits
sioner Lane. land recently complr nts
have been filed with us respecting
rates charged by the Pullman com
pany.
THE commission was also given
power under the Hepburn act to insu
tute uniform accounting for all inter
state c; rriers in the United States.
which ERE some l 200 in number and
operating approximately 220,OUO miles
o ftrackage in the country. This sys-
TEN of accounting has just been put
into effect.
I'VE also now have the power to eX-
anime the books of all railroads.
You asked me what the commission
has done: what 1t has accomplished?
We have spent a considerable portion
of our time during the past year in the
preparation for the accomplishment of
greater uniformity in the practice and
methods of railroads throughout the
country generally.
"A very considerable par. of our
work has been the constituting of acts
of Congress. so that the railroads. I'M
der all sorts of conditions and circum-
stances, may know what is required
of them.
"A strong effort will undoubtedly he
made d lring the next, ses sion Of Con-
gress to have the Interstate Commerce
Commission granted power to make
and enforce rules governing the matter
of furnishing cars to shippers. and the
movement Of cars at some minimum
rate after the cars are loaded. There
is no doubt strong movement in IA
vor of bringing under ;he control of
the commission, or some other federal
body. the supervision of all the work Of
capitalizing railroads, in order that the
watering of stock and other abuses in
furious to the public at large MAY be
made impossible.
been largely devoted to the suppress
sion of determinations in fave: of
one locality and against another loca-
ton similarity situated so that the To-
cality Disseminated against labored I'M
der handicap which brought uponit a
handicap which brought upon IT Il
great and dangerous loss. We have
practically stopped discrimination as
between individuals
THE commission now has the power
to mako point ra - ana through routes
so that it is not possible for Il railroad
to refuse an alliance with another. AID
smaller road. where there has never
been through route" concluded Mr.
Lane, in his summing up. of conditions
we have power also to require a rail
road to make connections with the
main rOad-the two roads being owned
and operated by separate bands of
capitali3ts-so that the larger road is
not able to kill or even cripple Tho
smaller road
we are crushing monopoly: we are
putting all men and all business con
Germs dealing with railroads upon a
common level of privilege. and we will
not allow railroads to control indus
tries by offering rebates to certain men
and trying to murder smaller concerns.
That sums the situation up acording
to our work. of today