Cheyenne record., 1916-12-14
SAFETY DENAs
FEDERAL CO ii.
Of The RAJ as
Only Way to Msal tTlsrf. sneias
OF aa!ion. says a. t ,ay.;l.
STATES RIGHTS PRESERVED

Principles Which Railways Hold Should
Govern Regulatory System In inter-
ests of Public and the Roads-Com-
puisory System OF Federal ineorpo
ration Favored.
Washington, Dec. 4.--That the inter
ests Of national defense require that
control OF railway lines should rest
with the federal government and NOT
with the states was the claim I'D
yanced by Alfred P. Thom. counsel
to the Railway Executives Advisory
Committee. in concluding his prelim-
mary statement Of the case for the
railways before the Newlands Joint
Committee on Interstate Commerce.
1--WE must be efficient Us a natiOn II
we are to deal successfully with our
national emergencies" said Mr.. Thorn.
.and we must appreciate that efficient
transportat ton Is an essential condition
of national efficiency. II we are to
halt and weaken our transportation
systems by state lines. by the perma-
nent imposition Of burdens by unwise
regulation. we will nuke national eth.
cheney Impossible"
States Rishts Would Not Suffer.
Mr. Thorn cited many instances IN
which shippers IN one stnte were fn'
juriously affected by selfish regula-
tions imposed on the railroads by
neiShhorinS states. He pointed ont
that federal regufntfon would lie no In.
vasion of the rights Of the states bnt
would lie the means Of preserving the
rights which they acquired when they
entered the Union. one OF which was
the right to the free movement "f their
products across state boundaries.
What the Railroads Advocate
The principles which the railroads
believe should lie Incorporated In any
just system of reguhntf,n were SUM
married. by Mr.. Thorn ns follows:
!. The entire power and duty Of reg.
ulntiOn should lie in the hands Of the
national government. except rs to mat
ters =" essentially lSrnt md incidental
that they cannot l,r nsetI to interfere
with the efficiency Of the service Or the
j,,sr rights Of the cgrritr1
g As one Of the nsesns nf accom-
pliShing tnts. q systefn ~ compulsory
fedora! Incorporation sho,lti ne adopt
ed. into which shesFtsf he brought MI
railroad corporations eneuged In inter-
state or foreign confmcst.e.
3. The Interstate Commerce Commits.
sion under existing laws has tn much
t. d" and is charged with contiictin.
functions. including the Investigation.
prosecution and decision Of cases The
latter duties shouFd be placed In the
hands of new body which might he
called the Federnf Railroad Commits.
sion. Rcgionnl Commissions should
be established In different parts Of
the country to assist the Interstate
Commerce Commission by handling To-
cal cases. ,H.-
4. The power Of the Commission
should he extended to enable It TO pre-
scribe minimum rates and not merely
maximum rate. ~ at present. This
would increase their power to prevent
unjust DETERMINATIONS. +r-
Justice to Public and Roads.
& 1t shonf0 he mnde the duty OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission. In
the exercise Of It's powers to fix rea-
sonnble rntes. to 80 adjust these rates
that they shah he just Mt once to the
public ane to the carriers. To this end
the Commission. in determining rates.
should consider the necessity Of main.
tanning efficient transportation AMI ex-
tensions Of facilities. the relation OF
expenses to rates and the rights OF
shippers. stockholders and creditors Of
the rOnds.
a. The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion should he invested with the pow.
Or to nx the rates for carrying mails.
Z. The federal government should
have exclusive power to supervise the
issue Of stocks and bonds by railroad
carriers engaged in interstate and for.
eign commerce.
8. The Inv should recognize the es-
restrain trade in the case Of ordiun ~
mercantile concerns and those which
restrain trade In the cnse Of common
carriers. The question of competition
10 not the only fair criterion.
3. The law should expressly provide
:or the meeting and agreement Of traf-
fic or other officers of railroads In re-
spect of rates or practices. This
should. however. be safeg,iarded by
requiring the agreements to be filed
with the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion and to be subject to be discpprov-
ed by It.
My legal proposition" Mr.. Thorn
said. ''is that the Constitution as 1t
now Is gives full authority 10 Congress
to regulate the instrumentalities OF In.
terstate commerce In nli their Parts.
II the power Of regulation is to reach
the public requirements. 1t must Ike CO.
extensive with the instnumeutulities Of