The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-11-19
STATE VS.. FEDERAL
SUPERVISION OF
RAIL WAYS
WARM EXCHANGE IN CoNvEN-
TIoN OF COMMISSIONS AT
WASHINGTON.

Washington. Nov. 1S.-The feeling of
railroad commissions against what
they term the wish of the interstate
commerce commission to hog all the
supervision over railroads reached II
climax today at the convention of the
National Association of Railway Com
missioners, when the convention was
asked to approve the Esch bill of/the
last congress to empower the inter-
state commerce commission to inves-
tigate all accidents on railroads en-
gagged in interstate commerce.
Commissioner Earle of South Caro-
lima led in the denunciation of this
bill. The discussion finally resulted
in Mr.. Clark. member of the in
terstate commerce commission, and
Commissioner Burr of Florida. offer
ing a suggestion that the bill be ap-
proved, If amended 50 as to specify
II was in no way to interfere with
the rights of the states. This course
was pursued.
Scarcely had Secretary Mosely, of
the interstate commerce commission.
finished the report of special COM
mittee recommending the approval of
the Esch bill before Commissioner
Smith of South Dakota objected that
it would interfere with the right of
the states to investigate. Mr. Nose
ly said he was amazed to hear such
IA statement. But il was not until
Commissioner Earle obtained the floor
that the situation became delicate.
We have heard YOU 81; for uni
form classification, uniform damur-
rage. uniform this and uniform
that - said Mr. Earle. shaking his
finger at Mr.. Moseiy. I'VE are get
ting tired of it. Are you going 10
take everything "I'll tell YOU right
now. |. as railroad commissioner of
South Carolina. am not going TO ac-
cept your uniform demurrape code"
Il don't care if You don't" re-
torted Mr.. Moseiy
We have authority" continued Mr.
Earle. You are trying to run the
whole thing
No: we are not" again interrupted
MIR. Mosely with vigor.
Chairman Dacker cautioned Mr.
Was pointing at me-" retorted Mr.
Mosely. "and l am going to answer
when he addresses me-
Mr.. Earle continued that. IL federal
inspectors should come to some
wreck in South Carolina, claiming
precedence over his inspectors, there
would be a fight.
1T would not be SO bad" he added
If you had competent men. but you
send out inefficient. political appoin-
tees that try to lord il over Us with
the badge of federal inspectors
Mr.. Mosely explained that railroads
are required to report on more wrecks
and il was desired To have these re-
ports more accurate and more detailed
with view of preventing railroads
from lying about wrecks"
The cost of accounting must be ap-
piled to railroad accounts ii super
vision of rates by public officials is
to be intelligent and fair. This was
the position taken by Associate Justice
o'Brien of the supreme court or Min
nesota in addressing the convention
of the National Association of Rail-
way Commissioners on the subject of
apportienment as between the state
and interstate traffic Of a railway val
uation made for rate making or rate
regulation purposes The committee
on legislation recommended law re-
squiring security holders To exhaust all
their rights in state courts before
going into federal courts.