South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-12-13
Suggestion That More Men,
berS be Named is Made in
Annual Report of Inter-
state Body to Congress.
STEEL CARS FAVORED
FOR PASSENGER TRAINS
Many 0eraiImentS Caused by
Tampering With Track or
Switches - Work of
Body is Increasing.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13-Ame1-
can railways have grown to such an
extent that the interstate commerce
commission is unable TO cope with
the problems presented IN connection
with its duties of regulating common
carriers and sees as the best remedy
for this situation an enlargement Of
the membership of the great rate fix
ing body, according to the annual re-
port Of the commission which was
laid before congress today.
The report recommends that the
increased commission should be
given statutory authority TO act
through subdivisions. 1t does not
define its ideas on this head, but it is
understood that it is desired that
the body be given authority to divide
IN three sectiOns-three mem bers TO
consider rates, three to consider mat
ters relating to the finances Of COM
mon carriers, and three TO handle
the great work of the physical valua-
ton of railroads and the revision of
rate structures in harmony with the
findings of the valuation investiga-
ton which now is in progress.
Want New Legislation.
The trials Of the commission in
strengthening out financial tangles in
the New Haven, Rock Island, Cincin-
natl, Hamilton and Dayton, Pe-e
Marquette and other Investigations
OF alleged railroad footing by money
powers are reflected in a recon-
mendation of the commission that
there should be new legislation up
on the uLject of control over ra l.
way capitalization" This means that
the commission seeks authority over
he stock and bond issues of rail-
roads in order to prevent stock wa
ering and allied evils of big business
manipulation.
The commission reports that in
pite Of it's efforts to adjust railroad
rates in the United States on a basis
productive OF harmony in the offices
If both carriers and shippers. it has
failed.
1T might have been expected that
Is the years pass the decision of the
commission would result in a de-
crease in the volume of this work,
but it has not so developed" says
the commissions report. The rate
structures between various commun-
tiles are now more often the subject
Of complaint than was the case in
earlier years. The decrease in the
number Of complaints filed during
the year has been more than Offset
by the complex nature of the cases
problem but that it leads only TO loss
and misery? Must more lives be
brushed and wives and mothers be-
.reaved that Europe is bleeding TO
death and that the grievous wound
must be staunched?
Willing to- Aid Rulers.
THE rising desire of the people in
neutral nations TO convert a barren
.disinterestness into active good will
has prompted the citizens Of the
United States Of America to sail for
Europe on the steamship Oscar II.
with the serious purpose Of joining
with the citizens OF the European
neutral nations in an organized eff
fort to help restore peace upon an
honorable and just basis; to facili-
tate direct negotiations between you
and the other warning nations. We
neutrals are about to Join in a con-
ference which shall without delay
frame and submit simultaneously
TO you and all the other beIligersnt
CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE