Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1916-11-23
GOVERNMENT
OWNERSHIP
OF RAILROADS.
Extended Congressional In
|, quiry Begins Today.

Washington, Nov. 19.-Congres-
sional investigation into the broad
question Of government regulation
and control Of railroads and other,
common carriers, suggested by Pres
ident Wilson in his opening address
to the last session begins here to-
morrow before joint committee of
Senators and Representatives.
Altho the investigation was auth,
oriZed before the threatened strike:
by the four great brotherhoods. the:
investigation will 60 into the ques-
tions which came up at that time,.
such as regulation of wages by the
interstate commerce commission and
| legislation to prevent a similar sit
uation.
Questions which the investigators
will take up go to the heart of the
transportation problem and the in
quiry probably will have potent
Influence in Congress on the subject
of government and ownership.
At the hearings it is expected
that all the leading railroads, tele-
graph telephone and wireless con-
Germs, and express companies as
we'll as economists, leaders of labor
and agriculture, shippers and bank
ers will be heard.
The committee is required to re-
port to Congress by January s, and
an effort may be made to put thru
legislation before the session ends
on March 4, after which the admin
istration will not have its present
majority in the House.
The resolution for the investiga-
tion came at the conclusion of many
months of effort on the part of
railroads and others interested in.
questions affecting them, to have a
comprehensive inquiry into alE
phases of government control.
| Under the resolution the follow
ing members were named on the:
committee: Senators, Newlands,.
Chairman; Robinson, Underwood.
Cummins and Brandegee; Represen-
tatives, Adamson, Sims, Cullop, Esch
and Hamilton, all coming from the
Interstate Commerce Committees of
the two houses.
In its announcement Of the hear
ings the Committee said it would
consider the subjects as follows:
'"The subject of Government con-
troll and regulation Of interstate and
foreign transportation and under
this head:
The efficiency of the existing sys-
TEN in protecting the rights of ship
pers and carriers and in promoting
the public interest.
THE incorporation or control Of
the incorporation of carriers.
"All proposed changes in the or
ganization of the Interstate Com
merce Commission as the act to reg,
ulate Commerce.
Under another head the Commit
tee will consider:
"The subject of Government own.
ership of all public utilities, such as
telegraph wireless, cable, telephone
and express companies, and rail-
roads engaged in interstate and for
eign commerce. including specifi-
cally:
THE wisdom or feasibility of gov.
ernment ownership.
''The comparative worth and eff
cheney of government regulation andI
control as compared with govern
ment ownership and operation"
Discussing in detail questions of,
government regulation and control!
and government ownership the Com
mittee announced it would consider:
What is the effect of dual regu-
lation on the parts of the States and.
the Nation of the rates Of carriers
What, If any, contradictions does it.
involve, and what, if any, discrimi-
nations does it involve as between.
States and localities.
| Whether or not any regulation is
feasible of the wages and hours of
employees of common carriers, and,
whether or not it is advisable, in the
interest of the public and with
view to maintaining uninterrupted
commerce between the States, to
take any further legislative action
regarding the adjustment of dis
putes between the carriers and their
employees and regarding strikes and
lockouts.
| whether Government ownership
will suit local needs.
| "A practical method of securing
Government ownership whether by
purchase or condemnation of prop
critics, or by purchase or condemna-
ton of bond and stock issues, Or