The Washington times., 1908-01-04
HARMONY AGENT
FOR COMMISSION
His Job Is to Bring Nation
and State Together.
System Saves Time and
Brings Forth Good
Results.

The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion has employed special harmony
and cooperation agent whose duty 1t
is going to be 10 bring the interstate
commission into closer touch and under
standing with the railroad commissions
OF the States.
II Is declared at the offices of the
commission that while statesmen are
worrying about the Federal usurpation
Of State authority, and about the ten
dency Of State authorities, in retalia-
ton, TO pass unreasonable laws, the
State and interstate commissions are
making fine progress in the extremely
practical business OF getting together
and doing business by mutual under
standing and cooperation.
5. L. Lupton, Of Virginia, is the man
who has been employed as harmony
agent. That isn't the title but II is his
JOB. Mr.. Lupton got the Idea about a
year ago that cooperation between
State and Federal authorities IN deal
Ing with railroad issues would be use
tul. and should be encouraged.
How to Make Harmony.
Lupton suggested, for instance that
when aquestIon which Systematically inter
state Ia character. but substantially To-
cal In interest, arises Il should be
turned over by the interstate commits
sion 10 the appropriate State commits
sion TO investigate and report.
Then the interstate commission cou d
take the necessary formal action. Vise
versa. when the state commission found
Itself appealed 10 by its constituents
Tor help Ia some matter which really
belonged to the interstate commission.
that matter should be sent on I'D wit
the views OF the local commission.
Thus, IN time, the interstate commission
would De able 70 make the State COM
missions helpful, the division OF labor
would facilitate business, and both
bodies would be made more useful and
efficient
The scheme looked so good to the
/ Interstate commission that Mr. Iupton
was sent out to see what ne could do
with II. lie visited the railroad com
missions, corporation commissions and
other bodies having to do with rail-
roads. al over the South and in parts
Of the West He explained what was
| III mind, ana found the states more
than willing 20 cooperate.
Ready to Start Work.
His report Indicated that he had es-
| and
understanding from which It was be-
ieved useful cooperative scheme
could be worked out. Accordingly. Mr..
LuptOn was hired 10 take charge Of the
work. and in a few days he will open
an Office at the commission building
and start organizing his scheme on
working rIes.
IT'S "a right TO di7cpss the necessity
krHuIIu
! jurisdictions clear and distinct" said
Prof Adams, statisticiau 10 the com
mission, but when IL comes to the con-
| crete question the Federal and State
authorities. with the responsibility OF
action, are trying 10 get together and
reach a practical solution. They are
] willing and anxious TO work together.
The trouble is theoretical, not prac-
teal"
The scheme Of cooperation looks cum
bersome and difficult. but in fact il has
been highly developed in Europe and
Is great success. In Germany there
are local and circuit administrative
councils. reaching up at last to an
impeTieal council The local bodies have
certain local authorities, and as 10 mat
tiers beyond their authorities they re-
port 10 the bodies higher up, which con-
s,Ger their recommendation and COM
monty adopt them.
French System Similar.
In France the system Is much similar,
the cOmite CONSULATE being the central
body and working through and In CO.
operation with local committees. More
than this. a general bureau at Berne.
operating under treaty powers and
representing all the continental coun-
tries. handles the International rela-
lions Of the railroads. and has rather
remarkable power and jurisdiction.
II might be called the interstate CON-
mission Of Europe, and under its Op-
erations the European system has been
unified TO an >EtenC hardly less strilI-
ing rnan has that Of the United States.
Europe had international transportation
problems to solve; the United States has
interstate ones.
Europe is, solving them by this very
plan of cooperation Of local authorities
with a central body; and the students
Of these questions who have been delv-
ing into them with a view 10 illuminat-
ing the situation in this country are
proposing TO try the same general plan