The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-12-07
BEGINS RAILROAD INQUIRY

Washington. Nov. 2O.-Ten members
Of Congress. five Senators and five
members of the House of Representa-
tives, began here today an inquiry into
the subject OF public control and SUI
peryiSion 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 cues
ton of government ownership or rail-
ways. telephone and telegraph lines
and express companies.
The members of the committee
which will conduct this important In
v~estigation are Senate NcwlandS or
Nevada. chairman: Senators Robinson
Of Arkansas, Underwood OF Alabama.
Cummins Of Iowa and Brandegee OF
Connecticut, and Representatives Adj
amSOn Of Georgia, Sims Of Tennessee
CullOD Of Indiana. Esch OF Wisconsin
an 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 for lettering the conditions
under which the railroads are operated
II for making them more useful serv-
ants of the country as a whole
Prominent Men az Witnesses.
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, representatives OF commercial or
CARNATIONS. 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 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
lister 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. fer It is reported that they will
advocate an extension OF federal III
thOrlty over rates and securities to the
practical exclusion Of state control of
these matters. 1t 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 OBJ
tanned the following outline Of the leg
~islative program which the railroads
will ask the committee to consider in
it Investigation They will ondeavor
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 n federal
body so that interstate traffic may be
regulated without reference to state
lines, leaving to the state commission
JurlSdlctloh only over local matters ana
locai public uIlIl'les. AS a part or TINS
pan n compulsory system or Federal
incorporation IS 10 be recommended,
accompanied by federal supervision of
railroad stock and bond issues.
A reorganization Of the Interstate
commerce commission VIII be asked
IN order 10 enable the commission prop
erIy TO exercise It's increased powers
1t Is also proposed that the preparation
ana prosecution or cases against the
railroads shall be delegated TO some
other agency OF the government, posi-
bly, the department or Justice, so that
the commission may devote its cncr
gics to its administrative functions.
With the commission thus relieved
Of some of its present duties and equip
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