The Washington times., 1915-11-19
UneIss National Defense and
Other Questions Block, Many
Changes May Be Made.
AMONG THE MOST URGENT
Leaders Consider Subject
Among Most important to Be
Discussed at Session.

Unless the discussion OF the national
defense question, Government owner
ship OF shipping. and other phases OF
the White House legislative program
practically blocks ether important gen.
eral legislation. revision of the inter-
state commerce laws is expected to .oc-
cupy a prominent place In the affairs Of
the coming session Of Congress.
The Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion favors the enlargement Of the COM
mission to nine members. 1t will recom-
mend the enlargement In its annual re-
port. Bills will be introduced In both
House and Senate to add to the number
Of members on the commission. Along
with this, will go the proposition OF d.
vldinH up the work Of the commission,
giving a part of the commission 1uris-
diction over q given section Of the co,in-
try or over a certain class of work
coming under the interstate commerce
laws
Just how acute the question of en-
larging the commission becomes in Con-
gress will depend greatly on the other
legislative business. IT Is possible that
national defense and kindred questions
and Government ownership Of shipping
will drive all else but the appropria-
tons into the background and force
them to be put over until the short
session Of Congress. beginning year
over to the next Administration.
Opens New Avenue.
However. If Congress does seriously
take up tho enlarging OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission. this will give
rise to the proposal OF other important
changes In the interstate commerce
laws
1t is declared on extremely high
authority that the railroads are await
'n6 only favorable opportunity to
press on Congress certain legislative
proposals which they. have long sought.
They have never abandoned. for In
stance. the idea of having traffic agree
nents lcgalized.
The railroads also want the COM
mission given power to enforce mimi
he to tend to prevent competition and
cutting OF rates.
In the minds Of some Of the ablest
railroad managers of the country II
the idea that II the railroads are. as It
appears they are. to he more and moro
centralized into the control OF few
great companies. and the control of the
Government to be made more rigid.
then the roads should have a guaran-
zee Of q certain minimum income. More
rigid Government control would include.
presumably. the control OF railroad Sc
curity issues.
For Extended Consideration.
TUG Ta"Vdus may ne ckpeCteu W
urge such ideas as these on Congress
at the first opportunity which is Of
fered for an extended consideration of
the interstate commerce laws.
While the railroads are taking tho
position the public II II exercises rigid
reguls tion., ought to guarantee a rea-
sonabie return on Investments. a large
hare Of the public may be expected to
AXE the ground that II the public is
20 bear any responsibility for railroad
income. 1t might as well. and better
own the roads. Consequently any seri-
"us discussion of a plan of guaran-
teeinE income will lend an impetus to
'he movement for Government own"r-
ship OF the railroads. and. TO that ex-
tent viii he welcomed by the exponents
"f Government ownership.
In connection with the movement to
enlarge the membership of the commits
'ion. marked opposition is looked for
" this measure ns = ses. the nrescn. Nj
ninistration will be able to well-nigh
make over the commission Shippers
have criticised severely the new ap-
Dointments made to the commission by
President Wilson as too strongly pro-
ral1road. Under the circumstances
they will not care to see the President
name a group OF new members.