The Prescott daily news., 1916-12-26

"auo OnIHCatiou or system or hatI- way Reguation-Roads Ask Fewer Masters.
 Washington, Dec 1S.-The Congress Eional Joint Committee on Interstate Commerce, which has been conducting 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 ere ating the committee, it is required to submit a report by January Sth next. It is understood that before that time the committee will ask for an exten- sion of time and that the hearings will he resumed at a later date, when some of those who already have appeared before the committee will be question: ed further and great many others will be heard It is probable. howev- CT 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. possible a railroad strike without pre- viouS 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 un- dertakcn by the Newlands Committee insist that there is no intention of abandoning 1t,
 Ii seems doubtful. indeed. If the country would permit the matter. to be dropped if there were evidence of ,iesirc on the part of Congress to do so. The nationwide evidences of in terest evoked by the initiation of the
 Newlands inquiry show that the peo
 pie of the country shippers. consum- CTS 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 or ganization and business interest in the country were engaged in studying the
 railroad question. The Chamber of Commerce nf the United States has
 been conducting an elaborate inquiry
 into various phases of the subject for
 many months past. Many local and
 state commercial bodies in every part
 of the country have committees en-
 gagged in study of the problem and
 have indicated desire to. come here and present their views. National or
 ganizations of manufacturers, lumber men, coal operators, wholesale and re- tail dealers have expressed through resolutions their desire for the mitica ton of the system of railway regnla tion. The National Industrial Traffic League speaking from the viewpoint of shippers using the railways, has indorsed exclusive federal regulation providing it is accomplished in such a way as to give full protection and nrompt adjustment in matters relating
 to transportation within the states. Many interests Studying Problem. All these organizations represent pri marily the shippers of the country. but they are not the only ones who arc tnking n hand in the discussion. The investors of the nation, through the!r own associations anu through commit tees representing the savings banks an" other financial organizations, are pre- paring to show the necessity of improv ing railroad credit and protecting the rights of those whoSH money Is invest cd in railway securities. Finally the railroads themselves, being vitally con
 cerned in the improvement of existing
 conditions. are planning to submit theif views through their executives. oper- ating officials and traffic experts and | to assert their willingness to accept far reaching federal regulation along lines | that will enable them to attract capital | and to provide the facilities needed for the prompt and efficient handling of | the country's transportation business.
 Main Trouble is Too Many Masters. Not all of these interests are in ac- | cord as to the remedies that should be | adopted There seems to he general agreement however, that many of the | difficulties which confront the m ailroads and which make it impossible for them