Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1916-12-28
PLAN TO RESUME
RAILWAY INQUIRY
AFTER MARCH 4TA
postponement Forced by Press
Of Congressional Business.
COUNTRY DEMANDS ACTION

Shippers, Investors and Representa-
tives Of All Branches of Business De-
mand Unifieation of System of Rail-
way RssuIation-Roads Ask Fewer
Masters.
Washington, Dec. 18.-The Congress
sional Joint Committee on Interstate
Commerce, which has been conducting I
the inquiry into government regulation
and control of transportation, last
week decided to suspend its hearings
on the subject and adjourned. subject
to the call of the chairman, because OF
the pressure of other work before Con-
gress. According to the resolution Gre
ating the committee, 1t is required to
submit a report by January 9Th next
II Is understood that before that time
the committee will ask for an extern
sion Of time and that the hearings Will
be resumed at later date, when some
Of those who already have appeared
before the committee will be question
ed further and a great many others
will be heard. It is probable, howev-
er, that the hearings will not be resum-
| ed until after adjournment of Congress
on March 4th. In addition to regular
routine business the commerce COM
mittees of the two houses are charged
with the important duty Of preparing
and presenting the legislation asked
for by President Wilson to make I'M
| xtV 4lyn VUt
yious investigation. This will leave
little or no time for the consideration
of the general questions OF railway
regulation.
Country Wants Something Done.
Members of Congress and others
who are interested in the inquiry I'M
dertaken by the Newlands Committee
insist that there Is no intention OF
abandoning 1t.
1t seems doubtful, indeed, If the
country would permit the matter to
be dropped if there were evidence of
desire on the part of Congress to do
so. The nation wide evidences or IN
terest evoked by the initiation or the
Newlands inquiry show that the peo-
ple of the country-shippers, consum-
ers and investors, as well as railway
men themselves-are alive to the fact
that the railway situation Is highly un-
satisfactory and that steps must be
taken without unnecessary delay to
make It possible for the railroads to
meet the growing needs of the nation.
From reports received here 1t seems
as though almost every commercial OF
ganization and business interest in the
country were engaged in studying th'
railroad question. The Chamber o.
Commerce of the United States ha'
been conducting an elaborate inqulr.
into various phases of the subject TO
many months past Many local ant
state commercial bodies in every par
Of the country have committees en-
J gagged in study of the problem ant
have indicated desire to come her
. and present their views National OF
CARNATIONS Of manufacturers, lumber
. men, coal operators, wholesale and re
tail dealers, have expressed throug
! resolutions their desire for the unifica
ton Of the system of railway regula
ton. The National Industrial Trafti
League, speaking from the viewpoir
II of shippers using the railways. Ia
k Endorsed exclusive federal regulatio
" providing it is accomplished in such
e way as to give full protection an
J. prompt adjustment in matters relatin
q to transportation within the states.
. Many Interests Studying Problem.
- All these organizations represent pr
marily the shippers of the country, b'
they are not the only ones who al
i, taking a hand in the discussion. IT
>, investors Of the nation, through the
= own associations and through commi
- tees representing the savings banks al
other financial organizations, are pr
- pairing to show the necessity of impro
=, ing railroad credit and protecting Il
10 rights of those whose money is invef
~ ed In railway securities. Finally Il
~ railroads themselves, being vitality CO
cerned in the improvement of existil
conditions, are planning to submit the
views through their executives, opt
On ating officials and traffic experts al
gs to assert their willingness to accept IA
ne reaching federal regulation along lin
Is. that will enable them to attract capt.
or and to provide the facilities needed I
'es the prompt and efficient handling
as the country's transportation business
'or Main Trouble 10 Too Many Master
~ Not all of these interests are In |
~ cord as to the remedies that should
:. adopted, There seems to be gene
- agreement, however, that many Of
~ dificultfes which confront the railroa
- and which make 1t impossible for thu
% to meet the requirements Of the |
= lions commerce promptly and satisf
~ torily arise from the haphazard q
~ often conflicting measures OF regulat
.o' that have been adopted from time
lol time by the federal government and
per forty-eight states and that what
IN needed is q well ordered, systems
eaI scheme Of federal regulation that 81
Aal cover the whole country and make
Oh possible for the railroads to provide
on, extensions and improved facilities
ma badly needed, while ct the same q