The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-03-21
RAILROADS FAVOR
PROPOsEDMEASURE
Appear To Believe That Should Stew
ems Bill Pass They May Be Allowed
to Increase Their Revenue
THIS BILL IS REVOLUTIONARY
Said Government Expert Mean
That Government Will Have Abso-
lutte Control of Each Carrier

From Congressman G. H. Tavenner.
Washington, March 21.-A revolu-
tionary change in government policy
toward railroads will come about it
Congress adopts the bill of Repre-
sentative Stevens, of New Hamp-
shire, which goes under the modest
title, "A bill to promote the safety
OF employees and passengers on rail
road engaged in interstate or fore
ign commerce. ~.
The Dill, If adopted. means that
the Interstate Commerce Commission
Will assume entire supervision of
railroad operation, almost the next
thing to operation by the govern
ment. More astonishing (for the
imminence of the bill has received
but little advertising) the railroads
themselves are not especially oppos-
ing the adoption of the bill.
For that reason, the passage of the
measure seems to be certain. 1t has
the approval Of Chairman Clark, of
the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. The interstate commerce COM
mittee of the House seems to he IA
vorably disposed toward the bill, and
it would not be at all strange if it
were adopted at this session of Con-
gress.
The railroads seem to be welcom-
ing this measure, and there are a
number Of reasons to explain their
present attitude. In the first place,
they recognize the public demand for
the enforcement of safety regula-
tions on railroads. The people want
these regulations made the law of
the land. The railroads know that
to install the many safety devices
demanded will cost much money.
Therefore, they would prefer de-
vices shall be installed and what
safety measures in the operation of
trains shall be taken, for the reason
that if the Commission prescribes
costly regulations it has the power
to allow the railroads to increase
their revenues.
The Stevens bill, drawn to give
greater safety in travel, empowers
the Commission to have full SUPER
vision of train schedules, operating
rules, size of train crews, hours of
labor and any other matter affecting
safe operation. The Commission is
given the power to enforce changes
in the roadbed and structures, equip
ment, signal systems, train control
devices, automatic stop devices and
so on. This practically submits
every railroad operating rule to the
supervision and approval of the Com
mission.
"This bill is revolutionary" said
a government railroad expert the
other day. ut will be more far
reaching in it's effects than even the
physical valuation of the carriers. 1t
means that the Commission will
practically control the service which
the roads give to the public. 1t
means that the government will
manage the roads while the roads re-
main as now i'm private ownership"
The railroad point of view was
summed up by ex-senator Faulkner,
who is representing the railroads be-
fore the committee.
The strongest argument in sup
port of this bill is that the Commits
sion controls receipts of the carrier
he said, with full knowledge of the
financial condition of each road. The
body that controls the revenue of
these great transportation systems
should therefore be the authority to
impose such burdens as are proposed
Knowing the revenue of each carrier
it can intelligently require the in
stallation of safety devices, deter
mining what character of device
shall first be installed in the public
interests .....