The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1916-11-30
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEE BEGINS
RAILWAY INQUIRY
Proposed BY President 10 Boz
tor Condition Of Carriers.
MAY CHANGE PRESENT SYSTEM

Officials Of Roads Prepared to Advocate
Federal Incorporation, Supervision o
Securities and Extension Of Authority
OF Interstate cormsrcs Commission.
Washington. Nov. 2O--Ten members
OF Congress. five Senators and Ave
members OF the House of Representa-.
lives. began here today an inquiry into
the subject Of public control and su-
pervision Of railroads that may lead to
the reyolutionlzing 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.
Cummins Of Iowa and Brandegee OF
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 for lettering 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 II
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-
nists 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-
ng any enlargement OF the federal
authority over commerce that would
letract from the powers now exercised
" state bodies They Will be followed
hortly by officials OF railway labor
rganizations who are expected to reg.
sfer their opposition to the increase
I governmental authority over wages
nd conditions OF labor.
|
Chief interest In the hearings cen.
ers In the proposals that will be put
Onward by representatives OF the rail.
Dads for 1t is reported that they will
dvocate an extension of federal au-
1ority over rates and securities to the
tactical exclusion of state control OF
lese matters. 1t Is understood also that
ley VIII 80 on record In favor of fed ,
al incorporation of all railroad lines
Legislative Program Of Railroads.
From an authoritative source is OBJ 50
lined the following outline OF the leg
iative program which the railroads
Ill ask the committee to consider In !
investigation: They will endeavor =
demonstrate to the commission that y
le OF the principal defects in the pres <
Z system OF railroad regulation ia :
e lack OF coordination resulting from (
9 simultaneous and conflicting regu- :
ton BY the federal government and k
the 4S states. They will, therefore :
K that entire governmental control K
the rates and practices of Interstate Z
rricrs, except purely local matters, <
placed IN the hands of a federal =
dy SO that Interstate traffic may be
without reference to state +,
es. leaving to the state commissions
only over local matters and :
al public utilities. ASS part OF this ..
IN, compulsory system of federal a.
corporation Is to be recommended <
'ompanied by federal supervision OF 3
lroad stock and bond issues. R
. reorganization Of the Interstate Z
nmerce Commission will be asked 3
rider to enable the commission prom. Z
to exercise its increased powers 4
s also proposed that the preparation
prosecution Of cases against the =
roads shall be delegated to some 4
err agency OF the government, posi-. =
the Department of Justice, so that /
commission may devote its ener.
to Its administrative functions. &
18th the commission thus relieved
ome OF its present duties and equin.
to handle its business more prompt.
the railroads will urge that the No. Is
during which the commission may !
suspend proposed increases in
$ be reduced from ten months to <
lays. with provision for PREPARATION 8
e paid to the SINNERS IL tho nd