Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1916-12-01
MAY CHANGE PRESENT SYSTEM
Officials Of Roads Prepared to Advocate
Federal Incorporation, Supervision Of
Securities and Extension of Authority
of Interstate Commerce Commission,

ton Of government ownership of rail-
ways, telephone and telegraph lines
and express companies,
The members Of the committee
which will conduct this important in
vestigation are Senator Newlands or
Nevada chairman; Senators Robinson
of Arkansas, Underwood OF Alabama
Cummins of Iowa and Brandegee of
Connecticut, and Representatives Adj
amson Of Georgia, Sims Of Tennessee,
Cullop Of Indiana. Esch Of Wisconsin
AMI Hamilton of Michigan. The in
quiry was recommended by President
Wilson in his message to Congress i'll
December Of last year He described
as its purpose to determine what could
be done "for lettering the conditions
under which the railroads are operated
and for making them more useful serv-
ants Of the country as whole"
Prominent Men as Witnesses.
In order to obtain the views of all
interests affected by the operations of
the transportation lines the committee
has invited prominent shippers, bank
ers, representatives Of commercial or
CARNATIONS railway executives, econo'
mists and others to appear before them
The first to be heard are railroad
commissioners of various states who
began their evidence today. Their
testimony is directed chiefly to oppos.
ing any enlargement Of the federal
authority over commerce that would
detract from the powers now exercised
by state bodies. They will be followed
shortly by officials Of railway labor
organizations who are expected to reg
lister their opposition to the increase
of governmental authority over wages
and conditions Of labor.
Chief interest in the hearings cen.
| tiers in the proposals that will be put
forward by representatives OF the rail-
roads, for it is reported that they will
advocate an extension of federal au-
thority over rates and securities to the
practical exclusion of state control of
these matters. 1t is understood also that
they will go on record In favor of fed
| eral incorporation of all railroad lines.
Legislative Program of Railroads.
From an authoritative source is OBJ
| tanned the following outline Of the leg
islative program which the railroads
| will ask the committee to consider in
its investigation: They will endeavor
to demonstrate to the commission that
one Of the principal defects in the pres
ent system Of railroad regulation Is
| the lack Of coordination resulting from
! the simultaneous and conflicting regu-
lation by the federal government and
by the 48 states. They will, therefore,
ask that entire governmental control
of the rates and practices Of interstate
carriers, except purely local matters
be placed in the hands OF federal
body so that interstate traffic may be
regulated without reference to state
lines, leaving to the state commissions
| jurisdiction only over local matters and
local public utilities. AS part Of this
plan, a compulsory system Of fedora
incorporation is to be recommended
accompanied by federal supervision Of
railroad stock and bond issues.
A reorganization Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission will be asked
in order to enable the commission prop
erly to exercise its increased powers
1t is also proposed that the preparation
and prosecution of cases against th'
railroads shall be delegated to some
other agency Of the government, posi-
bly, the Department Of Justice, so tina
the commission may devote its ener
gies to its administrative functions.
With the commission thus relieved
of some Of its present duties and equip
ped to handle its business more prompt
ly, the railroads will urge that the pc
Rod during which the commission may
now suspend proposed increases IL
rates be reduced from ten months Il
60 days, with provision for PREPARATION
to be paid to the shippers If the ad
vance shall be declared unreasonable.
They will also ask that the commits
sion be given the power to prescrib,
minimum as we'll as maximum rate
so that In meeting complaints Of dis
elimination the commission may orde
the advance of rate which it consid
ers too low.
One of the most important recon
mendations for which the railroads
will ask favorable consideration Il
that the commission be specifically
authorized to take into account Il
rate regulation the effect of rate
upon total earnings in the light Of ex
penses.
While the Newlands Committee il
required, under the resolution Great
Ing 1t, to submit report by Januar!
2 next. 1t Is not anticipated that th'
Committee will have come anywheri