Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1916-12-14
SAFETY DEMANDS
FEDERAL CONTROL
OF THE RAILROADS
Only Way to Meet Emergencies
Of Nation, Says AZ. Thorn.
STATES RIGHTs PRESERVED

ssts Of Public and the Rsads-Cem-
pulssry System Of Federal lneorpe.
ratien 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 adj
vanced by Alfred P. Thorn. counsel
to the Railway Executives Advisory
Committee, In concluding his prelim-
mary statement Of the case for the
railways before the Newiands Joint
Committee on Interstate Commerce.
1--WE must be efficient as nation If
we are to deal successfully with our
national emergencies" said Mr.. Thorn,
"and we must appreciate that efficient
transportation 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 make national eth
cheney impossible"
States Rights Would Not Suffer-
Mr.. Thorn cited many instances In
which shippers in one state were In
juriously affected by selfish regula-
lions imposed on the railroads by
neighboring states. He pointed out
that federal regulation would be no in
vasion Of the rights of the states hut
would be the means Of preserving the
rights which they acquired when they
entered the Union. one Of which was
the right to the free movement Of their
products across state boundaries.
What ths Rallrsads Advocate.
The principles which the railroads
believe should bs incorporated In any
Just system Of regulation were sum
mAyised BY Mr.. Thon - follcwss
I. The entire power anA 1aty u rec.
ulatisa sAouia - n tn. hands Of thu
| nstisnAa suveenmeAt, except - 70 mat-
tsra - essentially LEGAL and zineidcntel
tat thsy cannet ~ uss4 ~ tassrfers
| VITA. he s@klsueS - tnsFssSvsesor The
/ ina ss1xnSw - ~ estrisrs.
xssk1saseof tie neaAs az accom-
piisAins tits. systsm Of compulsory
| Ssesrsa incorporation sheulA b adopt
a, Into which should BE- brought al
railroad corporations engaged In Inter
state or fofAisne ~.
& The interstate Commerce Commis-
sioa under existing laws has too much
% 20 ana n charged With conflicting
functions. including the investigation
Dsosscutiaa and dscisioa Of cases. The
latter Autiss should ~ placed In the
bands Of . asv bedy whicA might b
called The Federal Railroad Commits
sien. Regioaaf Connissions sheuld
b established In aikerent parts d
tAs country to assist the fntarstats
Cemnercs Csnnisajes ~ handling b
col cases.
4 The power os tAs Connissicn
should b sxtsndel b enable II to pre-
scribe minimum rates end Hot merely
maximum rates. a. at present Thia
would Increase their pever 70 prsvsnt
unjust Aiscriminationa.
Ius&,es a. puhlle and Rsada.
r. shouA h made thu duty Of the
y,t.r.tsta Commerce Commission. In
IN. .reyci.e az its poverx to AZ rea
.or.hl. rates 10 40 adjust these rates
frat tA.v shsll b. tust at sncs 10 the
nuh,tc ana ia the carriers. 70 this end
IN. -Commission. In determining rates
shonla cen.ider the necessity Of main
t.in,n. sa,cient transportation and et
Tension. of facilities. the relation Of
sTpense. 10 rates and the rights o.
shipner.. stockholasrs and creditors q
80 ro.As.
q IN. In,erstate Commerce Commits
"a. .AsuM b. invested With the pew
- !. An Tia rstss for carrying nails.
= rAe felsrai severnmsnt should
| Aava exelnsive power 70 supervise II.
. - Il stscks ana bonds by raiirsal
, c.ry1.r. sneaeeA In iaterstats anA for
siep cemmsrcs.
~ law sheuid reeaGaiss IL q
s,ntial aiTsrsncs hetwesa tAinss whicl
|. re.train tr.As n ~ cass ef ordiusr,
II marcantih cencsrns aAd tAess whicl
|. D,etYais esaAs in The case Of csnmsI