Crittenden record-press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1909-191?, 1916-12-14
SAFETY DEMANDS =!
FEDERAL CONTROL
OF THE RAILROADS
Only Way TO Meet Emergencies
Of Nation, Says A. ?. Thorn.
STATES RIGHTS PRESERVED

Principles Which Railways Hold Should
' Govern Regulatory System In Inter.
eests Of Public and the Roads--com.
tuisory System OF Federal iooorpo.
ration Favored.
Washington. Dec. That the inter
ssts Of national defense require that
control Of railway lines should rcs.
with the federal government aud NOT
with the states was the claim nd
vanced by Alfred l.. Thorn. counse,
to the Railway Executives Advisor,
Committee. In concluding his prelin,.
mary statement OF the case for tbs
railways before the Newlands Joiat
Committee Oh Interstate Commerce
we must be efficient as a nation lt
W are 20 deal successfully with QUE
national emergencies" said Mr. Thorn.
and We must appreciate that etiicieu,
transportation Is an essential conditio.
Of national efficiency. II We are t.
halt and weaken our transportatich
systems by state lines, by the perms
nent imposition Of burdens by unwiss
regulation, we will make national efN
cheney impossible"
States Rights Would Not Suffer.
Mr.. Thorn cited many Instances Ia
which shippers IN one state were H.
turfously affected by selfish rcguls'
tons imposed on III. railroads BY
neighboring states. lie pointed out
that federal regulation would he no Ia,
vasion Of the rights Of tie states ~
would he the means u preserving to-
rights which they acquired when thlx
entered the Union. one ~ which wGH~
the right 10 the free \, oyement OF thor
products across state boundaries. M
What the Railroads Advocate.
The principles which the railroads
believe should he Incorporated In nny
Just system Of regulation were sun
married. by Mr. Thorn as follows:
I. The entire power and duty Of reg
ulatlon should be In the hands Of the
national government, except as TO mat
tiers 80 essentially local and incidental
that they cnnnot be- used 20 interfcrs
with the efficiency Of the service or the
Just rights Of the carriers.
z As one OF the means VI accom-.
plishing this. q system OF compulsory
FEDERAL incorporation should lie adopt
Cd, Into which should be BROUGHT all ,
railroad corporations engaged In intcr.
state or foreign commerce.
g. The Interstate Commerce Commis.
sion under existing laws has too much
TO do and Il charged with connictine
functions. including the investigates,
prosecution and decision Of cases. The
latter duties should bc placed In tho
hands Of new body which might b.
called the Federal Railroad Comma
sion Regional Commissions should
he established la different parts Vt
the country tn assist the Interstate
Commerce commission by handling 10
cal cases
1 The power - the Commission
should hc extended 90 enable u to pre-
scribe minimum rates and not merely
maximum rates ns at present, TIL.
would Increase their power 10 prevent
unjust dis .rlminations.
Just 20 10 Public and Roads.
. II shnpld bc made the duty OF thu
Interstate Commerce Commission. 10
the exercise Of lis powers TO fix res.
sonahe rates. 10 so adjust these rate,
that they shall liz Just ut once to the
public and To the carriers To this end
the Commission. IN determining rates,
should consider the necessity Of main.
tainnr efficient transportation aud OK.
tensions u facilities. tho relation OF
expense to rates and the rights OF
shippers. stockholders and creditors OF
the roads.
q The ln,crstat. Commerce Commits;
sion should hc Invested with the pow
or 10 nv the rates for carrying mails.
I The federal government should
have exclusive power 10 supervise thu
issue 81 stocks md bonds by railroad
carrier, engage in Interstate aud for.
oign commcre.
y. The law should recognize the ~.
sentiai difference between things which
restrain trade In the case of ordinary"
concerns and those which
restrain trade In the ease 81 coinmJn
carriers. The question u competitloa
IN not the only fair criterion.
o The law should expressly provide
for the meeting and agreement OF traf-
nc or other officers Of railroads In 70.
spcct Of rates or practices. This
should. however. he Afecunr,lcd by
requiring the agreements 10 he iilcf
with the Interstate Commerce Commits
Hon aud 10 he subject TO be di-al'pros
u by n.
"sIy legal proi'csIiiou.- ar Thom
aid. "i- that the ,"rsiitut'on ns
ow Is gives full authority TO c"nrrc-s
regulate the Observation-Disclosures OF NJ
rrstate eommerc IN all their iarts
4 the power OF regulation Il to rcnch
he public requirements. II must lie CO. :,
With tb->sr~rumeuinliticr " =
ommcrce.' ~ The
49, EsSiQ0 per "a