Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1915-12-14
Federal Body Finds It Is Too Small to Cope With
 All Its Problems.
WANTS AUTHORITY
 OVER STOCK ISSUES
Evident That Commission Finds Nc- cessity to Prevent Watering of Rail. road StOckS-RecOmmen Law
 for All-Steel Trains.

Washington, Dec. 13.-American railways have grown to such an ex- tent that the interstate commerce. commission is unable to cope with the problems presented in connection with it's duties of regulating common carriers and sees as the best remedy for this situation an enlargement of ing body, according to the annual report of the commission which was laid before congress today
 Tn previous years the commission has disapproved of any change in the number of it's members. The commits sion now consists of seven members and while the report does not speci- fly to what extent the number should be increased, it is understood com mission of nine members is desired.
 The report recommends that the in- creased commission should be given statutory authority to act through subd visions. It does not define it's ideas on lhis head, but it is under stood that it is desired that the body be given authority to divide into three sections-three members to consider rates, three to consider matters re- lating tC the finances of common car riers and three to handle the great work of the physical valuation Of rail- roads and the revision of rate struc- lures in harmony with the findings Of the valuation investigation which now is in progressaa F ' te '2 !.
 The trials of the commission in straightening out financial tangles in the New Haven, Rock Island, Cincin- nati, Hamilton & Dayton, Pere Mar ouette and other investigations of al legged railroad footing by money pow CTS are reflected in a recommendation of the commission that there should be new legislation upon the subject of control over railway capitaliza- tion." This meaas that the commits sion seeks authority over the stock and bond issues of railroads in order to prevent stock watering and allied evils of big business manipulation. Fails to Adjust Rates.
 The commission reports that, in snite of it's efforts to adjust railroad rates in the United States on a basis n,rductive of harmony in. the offices of both carriers and shippers, it has failed. "!t might have been expected that as the years pass the decisions of the commission would result in decrease in tEe volume of this work but IL has not so developed" says the com mission's report. The rate struc-
 tures between various communities are now more often the subject of complaint than was the case in ear licr years. The decrease in the num- Ter of complaints filed during the year has heen more than offset by the complex nature of the cases that have been presented. As the af1alfs of shippers and carriers are subjected to closer analysis. they are more ]eai- ously guarding their respective inc 1 terests.' This statement recalls the assertion | of Commissioner Harlan, in his as senting opinion in the five per cent case to the effect thats American rall-
 way rate structures are so honey combed with inconsistencies and 1n- tricacies that the commissions tash in straightening out the tangle IS almost hopeless under the present methods of procedure. The commls-
 sion,s recommendation that the com.
 mission be increased is step to"afo
 lettering this situation.