The Dickinson press., 1916-12-16
CONGRE
COMMIT N | BEGINS |: |!
Rail WAY INQUIRY
Proposed By President to Bot
ter Condition Of Carriers
MAY 4 CHAN ] l ! GE PRES sENT SYSTEM, !! !,
offiefais Of Roads. Prepared g dvocats
FsdsraI incorporation, supsrvision q
n Securities and Extension Of Authority.
Of Interstate commsros Commissions.

n 4.
@ Securities and Extension Of Authority.
Of Interstate Commerce cormission.3s
Washington Nov. 20: Ten members
of Congress. ave Senators and i've
members of the House OF Representa-
Shves, began here today an inquiry into. Into
the subject Of public control and su--s
pervision of railroads that may lead to-
the reyoluti nizing Of the whole scheme
Of governmental regulationof the coun-ss i,lt =
try's transportat don lines. Incidentally
7 the committee is to look Into the ques-
ton Of government ownership OF rail-
ways, telephone and telegraph lines
and express companies ss55
The members OF the COMMITTEES
which will conduct this important IN
+ vestig tigation are Senator Newlandss of
Nevada, chairman; Senator's Robinson
sof Arkansas, Underwood Of absmaa,, g, i:
sCnmmins Of Iowa and Brandegee of
Connecticut, and Representatiy ives Ad-
eamson Of Georgia Sims OF Tennessee,
sCullop Of Indiana, Eseh Of Wisconsin
gand Hamilton; Of Michigan. The In
Equiry was recommended BY President
Wilson in his message to Congress- In
4 December of last year.. He described
as its purpose to determine what could
be done '.for bettering 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.
81 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, representative Of commercial Or
.ganizations, railway executives, econo-
mists and others to appear before them.
The first to be heard are railroad
commissio Of various states who
began their evidence today. Their
testimony IS directed chiefly to oppos-
ing any enlargement r OF the federal
authority over commerce that would
detract from the powers now exercised
by state bodies. They viii 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 condi lions OF labor. XII a
Chief interest ID the hearings cen
ters In the proposals that viii be put
forward by representa- tfves 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 il understood also that
they win 60 on record II favor Of fed
feral incorpo Grafton. Of all railroad lines:
Legislative Program of Railroads.
From an authorit tive source is OBJ
tained the following outline OF the leg
islatiye program which the railroads
will ask the commit ttee to consider In
tSits inYestiga tion: i: They viii endeavor
to demonstrate to the eommiss that
one Of the principal defects in the pres.
sent system Of railroad regulation is
the lack OF coordi dinati lon resulting from
1.-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 sprac cticess of interstate
carriers. except purel 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 commissio
jurisdi diction only over local matters and
local pubic utili ties. Asa part Of THU