The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-08-17

I
railroads Congress and fortyeight state legis-
/ " the powers OF the federal and state commits
sons As the AND apa
tainty follow. Accordingly. our general r s.
! and efficiency. The closer it is examined, the
/ more one convinced of the truth OF the oio
adage, Too many cooks spoil the broth.
The most important question before the
Joint committee of the two houses OF congress
appointed under the Newlands resolution is that
of single control of the railroads. The resolu-
ton directing the committee to investigate the
subject of government control and regulation
of interstate and foreign transportation IS
broad enough to cover almost any inquiry al
fecting the joint interests. of the carriers and
the public, and it is expected that one OF the
first matters considered will be the basis of the
growing demand for legislation to free the rail
roads from the conflicting jurisdiction OF the
states by placing them under federal control
The duplication of authority which the
roads must recognize and the conflict Of author
ity under the present system have had evil
consequences, and the opinion of conservative
students of railroad problems that the most
serious grievance Of the transportation indus
try is in the double system Of control Justlhes
the belief that many difficulties now confront
ling the carriers would disappear with provision
for federal incorporation.
Nineteen states have legally asserted their
right to control bond and stock issues OF rail-
roads operating within their limits. This is an
exceedingly grave assumption OF state power
over railroads, fer it possesses possibilities OF
danger to railroad credit. In the case OF rail-
road traversing several states, the consent OF
each being necessary to a proposed issue OF Sc
curities, many things may happen. One state
III &c
occasioned defeats the project. All states may
approve it but one. and that slay the project
by its refusal
All states but one may consent, and that one
insist that some of the proceeds be spent within
Its own borders, although, perhaps, not needed
there and actually needed in some other state
Hence. this newly developing feature OF state
regulation promises to place the hnanclal
standing and credit of railroad at the mercy
of the state which may be influenced or actu-
ated by either political selfshness ilhberal
Eity. While this may seem incredible, it is an
outgrowth of state railroad regulation, and an
illustration of the extremes to which it has been
carried.
It would seem that only congress should regu.
late so momentous an issue, through It's deputy,
the interstate commerce commission. For
tunately there appears to be no doubt as to the
power of congress to legislate IN this direction
In deciding the Minnesota cases, the supreme
court of the United States said: 1.-The author
/ ty of congress extends to every part OF
interstate commerce and to every 1nstru-
mentality or agency by which it is carried on;
and the full control by congress OF the subjects
committed to its regulation is not to be denied
or thwarted by the commingling of interstate
and intrastate operations" The way has
been cleared for placing interstate trans.
portation under one national authority, but
the evils resultig from conflicting regulations
will continue until congress acts.
! Tho Nissouri man who won in the primaries