The sun., 1908-04-22
Plan Of Railway Control Neither
Federal Nor state,

In the Record a weekly newspaper Of
Hampton, ~ H., we find suggestion in
the way Of railroad control which en-
cages attention partly by It's somewhat
unconventional character and partly be-
cause it is signed by CHARLES FRANCIS
ADAMS, the patriarch Of Railway Com
missioners in this country.
Mr., ADAMS ia discussing the political
obstacles to the merger Of the New
Haven and the Boston and Maine and
predicting the eventual consolidation Of
all the lines east of New York State into
one great New England Union Railroad
He points out that the whole fabric Of
New Englands prosperity rests upon its
intricate system Of transportation lines,
steam and trolley He traces the grad
ual progress Of unihcaton Of control and
then proceeds to say:
"A careful study OF the railroad problems will
reveal a grouping OF Identical interests and con
dItlons. New England as section has a set Of
conditions peculiarly her own; the Southern states
have their own needs quite distinct from New
England, and the same Is true Of the Pacific Coast
the great Northwest and the nearer middle West
1T will be found then that the solution OF the
railway problem Will be found In conserving the rail-
way service to the requirements OF the particular
group whose prosperity depends directly upon
this service, and the only help which Federal
lntery entlon can bring TO the problem Is In creating
railway districts with a single Railroad Com.
mission therefor, the latter subject In the broad
est sense only 10 the Federal Government and
having power TO adjust all grievances determine
equitable rates pass upon the question OF con.
solldAtlon whether steam or trolley and 10 fact
10 have the same power In multiple that now rests
With the Seyertl State Legislatures and their In.
specton boards Of Railroad Commissions
This remarkable scheme to broaden the
present State railway commission system
into district jurisdiction, without making
it absolutely subject to the Federal Gov
ernment, is not presented with all the
lucidity desirable in such matters We
continue to quote from Mr. ADANIs's eX-
planation and argument:
why should not each OF the sli New England
states be willing 10 have delegated this control
to q commission In which each state has an equal
part-a commission OF practical men, who by
personal Acquaintance know well the needs Of
their Immediate surroundings and BY association
with fellow members can grasp the whole sltua.
ton correctly and Justly The railways In this
country o.day have passed beyond the limited
and often blghtng control Of a single State, set
the needs OF the country are too diversified to ad
nit OF purely national commission and the fact
Is ever manifest that there Is nrst home grouping
or gathering Of business In which State lines have
no existence, preceding the interstate rafnc on
It's broadest lines
For the best interests Of New EngSnd the Dis
trlct Commission should consist Of thirteen mem
ber, two from each OF the sII States and one from
New York thus giving Maine and Rhode Island an
equal voice In the vast development OF New Eng.
land Industry. Of which they have relative part,
In such commission politics have no place
tue Legislature no restriction save only through
lIs corporation laws and the business needs Of the
whole section will be paramount In the regulation
and control OF transportation facilities. And TO
sucn q uUd, oi lneh die question Ji s;nst 5os1o
rate head for tue whole New England system would
not be denied
This is as interesting as a romance.
We should like TO know whether Mr..
CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS expects the
Federal Government TO delegate to the
District Commissions its constitutional
power over interstate commerce before
or after the seven States have delegated
their constitutional power over COM
merce within their respective borders
It would also be gratifying to understand
u little more clearly his ideas as TO the
exact method and process Of delegation.