Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-11-18
POSITION OF ROADS
OUTLINED BY THOM
Refers to Suggestions Which
Will Be Made to Joint Con-
gressional Committee.
INQUIRY BEGINS ON MONDAY
Adamson, Author of Eight-Hour
Law, Predicts Legislation to
Make Strikes Impossible.

tBy Associated PrcsS.
WASIiINCTON. November l7.-Somc
OF the suggestions the railroads will
make to the joint congressional inveS-
tigatinE committee. which begins hear
ings on transportation questions here
on Monday. we're outlined to-tay a, Il
special meeting OF the national council
OF the United states Chamber Of Com
mcrcc by a. l.. Thorn, counsel for the
railway executives advisory committee.
NJ Thorn said the railroads would
ask for:
Federal incorporation law for in
tcrstatc railroads:
y measure cnlarcing the Interstate
Commerce Commission and creating
regional bodies under 1t with orig ginal
Jurisdiction ia rate questions. subject
TO appeal by carriers or shippers TO the
entire commission:
Amendment OF the act TO regulate
commerce. 50 az 10 reduce to sixty
days the present period Of ten months.
during which the Interstate Commerce
Commission may hold nled railroad
tariff in suspcnsion ana
Authority To the commission to fix
minimum as Wei as maximum rates.
such as i, alone has at present.
BROTHERHOOD LEADERS
FAB. TO MAKE APPEARANCE
The national council had given a
place to representatives, of the railroad
brotherho3ds on its program Tor the
afternoon. hut the secretary announced
that kilograms had been received from
W. :. Carte. uf the Hremen. and L. l..
Sheppard. acting for Grand Chief Car
rctson. OF til. conductors. saying they
could not arrange 10 he present. No
replies to invitations had been re-
ceived. ne said. from the other two
brotherhood leaders.
Mr.. Thom's presentation OF the rail-
road suggestions was preceded by
speeches which hrouSh, the railroad
cight-hour law Squarc!y before the
council. Representative Adamson. au-
thor OF the law, declared he believed II
constitutional. but thought Congress
would enact supplementary legislation
before the congregational Investigating
committee reports To make Impossible
another situation such as confronted
the nation whcn tho brotherhoods
threatened 10 strike. MIR. .>damson
said he WAS opposed TO government
ownership of railroads and 10 tho
abolishment rr curtailmcnt Of the
powers OF state railroad com omissions
by putting all ratcmak king power in
tho hands OF tho Interstate Commerce
Commission.
MEN Kept IN STEP ONLY
HI PRICK OF BNNONET
WI. lhon "lscnssca the history OF
american FaliroaGs ahd thcir rcSula-
tions. adding:
I'm" impression today IS that the
men VINO manage the raiirohds can
only he k"nt III IN" ranks and IN step
os '"e pr'tN - 'no ""son'', haS 'he
t,'''' 80 '',"''s' ;" ~" 'o''. ~
snh;ccto II !. b.sr no, co,ne !, ,hor. i;
no nossibi,tiy nf III. man,ccrs Of III.
r,ilrooda h.i,,c cn,i,lcd - ~, ,rus,
imnoscd an thcn nv III. ,,onlr tbcn
thoro Ia an end ~ Government, rcru-
latjon and ,h.n ,hrrc n,u., I,o rov-
.rulncnt ownership
"Wc stand now bcfora IN, Aonl,
declaring our belief ,hot ,ho uorL ~,
,orroI tion. rrn,.ss;ou and nupiShmcnt
has como far enough ana ,ba, thc moo
plc must pass deliberately on The
question. Wc stand further on III.
proposition that tho character Of the
men i'm general in cnorr. OF these in.
strumcntaliti.s Of commerce is such
that they arc entitled To ,rus, and
confidence because ,h.y rca,izc IN.
sanctity of their iduciary capacitv"
Mr. Thorn said tho railroads would
enter the coming Investigation IN mo
belief that they would hc fairly
treated by th. country, knowing they
could not expect special favors, and
that they would get nowhere IL they
attempted to ask them, and realizing
that If what they ask does not como
UP to tho publics rod stick, their re-
quest will he rejected
QUESTION OF, CREDIT
rs SERIOUS puOnLEN
One or IN. mos, s.ro,s ,roh,,. ,o-
,orc ,hc r,ilroad. 10 doo,,rod :. ~,