The Washington times., 1916-02-07

tho a!ternat tive Cor regulation OF ear
ricrs. \ number OF the radically dis
posed Senators are sympathetic With his
effort. ana tho subject is likely to he
opened wide Oy the Senate within the
next fcw DAYS
When Senator Ncwlands on December
H. introduced resolution for creation
OF n Joint Congro ssiohal COmc'ission to
study the whole subject Of transoorta-
ton regulation. nobody dreamed. least
OF all the Administration forces that
public ownership would he forced into
the consideration. But Mr.. Rorah
promptly submitted IN amendment TO
the resolution. directing that N" com
mission should include in its ethdV the
subject OF Government ownership. ana
hc IL determined that the proposition
shall not bc rejected without fight.
Viewed As Plan To Evade Issue.
Mr.. Borah. along with more than
few other Senators. inclinos TO thc "nin-
ION that the Administration proposed
the commission investigation. not be-
Cause there was any nccd for inrestiCa-
tion. but because the pendcnCv OF snCh
an ambitious pr0yram could 'o made
the cX'use. for an indefinite 'm" i"r
! sidctracking other reeulative measures.
The Democratic rartv was pledged nY
! tho Baltimore platform particularly TO
) the Development CT regulatory l"glsih-
! tion in the direction Of contro! of Eecur-
| ity issues Shortly after the Wilson
Administration came into power. 1t was
LIven Iut that this legislation was to be
pressed. but this was followed Pft"r IN"
legislation had been Introduce by n
rather MYSTERIOUS pronounceT"nt "f
Administration displeasurc. AZ re-
suit there has been absolutely no a"-
CoraD'ishn"nt along this line since the
Wilson Tcgim" cam" into control.
( In his address TO Congress H' inc
! opening Of tn" present SESSION. ireSl :
! dent Wilson devoted considerable at
lcntiOu and emphasis to the ldca that
| the time had come, foE general
| survey of the whole transportation
, problem with n view TO determining
| what steps should be taken ana meas
ureH adopted next The Importance e
! which this proposal was given IN the
SperCh from the throne oCra~loned
considerable wOndernent. IhlS was
: rather aCcentuaied Wheh on i'e'"ih
ber II Senator NeWlauds introduced "A
| Joint resolution rrcitlng that various
regulatory measures were pending III
Congress: that the Interstate com
merCe Commission has made various
Recommendations as to regulation
that for many years system Of both
state and Federal rcGuIa uonS mas
been in effect. that there have been
conflicts between the two plans OF
regulation: and that. on the whole
II is desirabl TO have "A general SUI
Vey OF the "Npcrlenc" ana the results
of regulation to date.
Therefore, Il is provided that a
commission OF Senators and f"pre'
| sentativrS, five from each house. Shal
make general investigation and sur
Vey Of the whole subject. and in re
porting shall indicate conclusions a
| to the success OF regulatory measures
= to this time, and the measures ina
ought to be adopted for the future.
Then Came Borah Bolt.
The resolution went to the Com
mittee ON Interstate Commerce.. an
shortly afterward senator Borah in
troduced his amendment TO 1T requlr'
ing that the commission shoulc
speCifically look into the Government
ownership of carriers. This amend
ment was received much as il farm
: hand had chuCked a monkey wrench
into the gears OF the machine.
The EewlandS' :'su!Cuon had no
: aimed al anything quite SO broad ai.'
inclusive. Senator horah promptly IN
dicated that lac eNDe"tc tcd som" fInct
5 mental and essential thtnCs to be con
1 sdered. Speaking OF these 'iunda
/ We have had about generation o
regulation Of transportation, with vary
ing results Now the great nations "
tho world, With the exception OF on
own. ere engaged il AN unprecedent"
warfare An incident T. thus has Dee
= the recognition Of difh'u ult"s ~ eco
norliC adjustment which have led "a
the warning C'Nntri"S TO adont n'I
e methods not only hnN" IN" railroad
+ OF Great Britain been taken over I
tn" control Of the go "nn"nt' n1t =
-
, / ,nent has assumed t" exercise sue
= functions as the hNinG OF prices ar
y | tho control Of Supplies OF tho neC"csa
: rios Of life These things hay" been don
= reCaIlsr nm Ter the stress Of gray" ma
' | tional necessity it has been assume
! !. trat g-eat social efficiency and ocC
+ nONic efficiency COLD I've acfieNe
a through such means
Would Not Surrender Control.
" IF It he assumed that these measure
a 6re necessary in times Of war h"Ca"S
= they can bring about greater eConom
and social Efficiency, then 1t Is qull
impossible to assume that when l'"aC
shall return to the world they VIII !
abandoned. For example, the BrltlS
Y railroads were taken 'Ncr ny IN" GOV
ernmcnt as a measure "f military an
econorlic necessity. Docs anNbOd
Il ina gine that those rAil"1auS VIII "N'
q he returned to ~" status thAt lhNy ~
CNniel hetOrr TINS WH'. 'ItdIihN not.
u ''Therc Is an important consensus {
opinion Of railroad presidents, finar
: ciers. and managers. to the effect thf
4 regulation has been carried to tn" pol1
s where its inCapaCity to mc"t the n"ro!
: sit, Of the case has been demonstrates
Rovond that lies the great un"Np ore
realm OF public ownership tn" rest
the world has had good deal Of -
pericnCc in that realm. "" hav" ha
h none II it shall he held that r"GuIatlc
IS not the solution Of our diffcultie
and that an alternative must b" souGh
;, then the obvious alternative is puhl
u ownership: and II is necessary that "
= realize this fact aud SGT ourselves ahol
- the study Of the problem in Ider TIA
we NAV he cuuipned to handl" It. n v
g arc to have public ownership of "omm'
. carriers. il is at least matter Of t
wears study. contemplation, and Drcpt
" ration before We can hone to he pr
'" narcd to deal with it It IS none tC
It soon for us to begin to look into the!
l. questions"
e, Borah Plans To Lead.
:. Senator Rorah has not committed hiT
= self to the Government ownership st'
a. Of tho question. II" merely takes II
ground that the tim" has com" wh'