The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-09-29
slump in Railway Growth.

i'm pFOVement OF existing rail-
ways and construction OF new lines
has been seriously retarded II is
necessary to go back to the panic
in the 90's 10 find a smaller increase
per cent than that OF 1914 over 1909
either in miles of track or in miles Of
Transportation development pri-
marily for commercial and agricul-
tural purposes is the foundation of
transportation for defense. Transpor-
tation facilities this year have been
hardly anywhere equal to the strain
and at some points have broken down
utterly. A mere modicum of the war
traffic which an American embroil-
ment would entail. superimposed upon
Law general business. has exhausted
our transportation resources.
3-Cessation of railway development
is due to the belief of investors that
governmental influences will keep
railway earnings too low in proper
ton to inesca pahle railway expenses
Investors look forward past the fat
year TO the lean year. They await
correction Of the defects in the re-
gulatory system
For Congress to Act
4-Gpon Congress in the main rests
the burden of reorganizing the system
OF supervision over railways. Test
| cases carried to the highest court
have established the supremacy of the
national government over whatever
factors may influence Interstate Com
nerCe.
incorporation and the regulation
of security issued should be Federal
| What is permitted in one State is
! forbidden by another. Even when the
tx.,, -
obtaining sanction is long and costly.
6--Supervis!on over rates which af-
! feet Interstate Commerce should be
| made Federal by statute. Some In
| terstate Commerce Commissioners
doubt their power in this respect
/ THE Interstate Commerce Com
| mission should have power to fix
minimum as well as maximum rates.
! The commission Ia unable in readtust-
ing rate schedule for the primary
purpose of eliminating discrimination.
to protect the carriers involved as a
whole from impairment of their total
revenue.
To Make Roth Ends Meet.
! S~-ConEress should by statute de-
clare n the policy of the government
to permit such rate systems as will
/ yield the roads revenue sufficient to
tract investments for improvements
and extensions. 1t has constantly been
urged that the commission, under the
! language OF the act, could only con-
slider ono rate at n time and never
whole rate fabrics in the light OF to-
tai earning and total needs. It was
proposed in connection with the eight
| hour-day legislation that the COM
mission should be directed to con-
slider wage advances in fixing rates.
/ The commission should have a stand :
ing rule from Congress to consider,
In fixing rates, not only wages but
every other factor affecting expense.
| Congress should authorize the
creation OF regional h-commissi on s
appointed by the President. subordi-
nate to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, and exercising administrative
! jurisdiction over areas corresponding
TO traffic movement Shippers and
railways complain that administration
as conducted by examiners is slow
and complicated and requires litigants
to travel to Washington at an UNI
I justif1able expenditure of time and
money. 1t is proposed to meet this
situation by having suh-commissions.
composed of men of such calihre as
to he confirmed by the Senate. en-
! powered to make orders which win be
valid unless appealed to the Interstate
Commerce Commission.