Judsonia weekly advance., 1916-11-29
CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE BEGINS
 RAILWAY INQUIRY
Proposed by President to Bei- ter Condition of Carriers.
MAY CHANGE PRESENT SYSTEM

MAY CHANGE PkESENI SIS EM Officials of Roads Prepared to Advocate
 Federal incorporation. Supervision oi
 Securities and Extension of Authority
 of Interstate Commerce Commission.
 Washington, Nov. 20.-Ten members of Congress, five Senators and five members of the House of Representa- uyes, began here today an inquiry into the subject of public control and SUI pervision of railroads that may lead to the revolutionizing of the whole scheme of governmental regulation of the coun- try's transportation lines. Incidentally the committee is to look into the ques- 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 of Nevada, chairman; Senators Robinson of Arkansas, Underwood of Alabama,
 
 Connecticut, and Representatives Ad- amson of Georgia, Sims of Tennessee, Cullop of Indiana. Esch of Wisconsin and Hamilton of Michigan. The in quiry was recommended by President Wilson in his message to Congress in December of last year. He described as its purpose to determine what could be done flor 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.
 In order to obtain the views of all interests affected by the operations of the transportation lines the committed has invited prominent shippers, bank CTS, representatives of commercial or ganizations, 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 ister their opposition to the increase of governmental authority over wages and conditions of labor
 Chief interest in the hearings cen ters 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. It 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 ob tained the following outline of the leg islatiye program which the railroads will ask the committee to consider in it's 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 4S, 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. compulsory system of federal incorporation is ito 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 it's increased powers. It is also proposed that the preparat ton and prosecution of cases against the railroads shall be delegated to some other agency of the government, possi- bly, the Department of Justice, so that the commission may devote it's ener- gies to it's administrative functions.
 With the commission thus relieved l of some of its present duties and eqtrip