The Sun. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1915-1932, 1916-12-15

Interstate Commerce.
I'VE must be efficient as n nation n
we are 10 deal successfully with our
national emergencies" said MFR. Thorn.
''and we must appreciate that efficient
transportation Is an essential condition
Of national efficiency. If we are 10
halt and weaken our transportation
systems by state lines. by the perma.
.ucnt imposition Of burdens by unwise
regulation. we will make national EN-.
cheney impossible"
. states Rights Would Not Suffer
Mr.. Thorn cited many instances IN
which shippers In one state were In.
iuriously affected Ivy selfish rcgula.
tons imposed on the railroads by
neighboring states. lie pointed out
that federal regulation would be no in.
vasion OF the rights OF the states but
would be the means Of preserving the
rights which they acquired when they
entered the Union, one OF which was
the right 10 the free movement Of their
products across state boundaries.
What the Railroads Advooats.
The principles which the railroads
believe should be Incorporated In any
Just system Of regulation were sum.
mariSed by Mr.. Thorn as follows;
I. The entire power and duty Of reg.
ulation should be IN the hands OF the
national government, except a. 10 mat
ters 90 essentially local and Incidental
that they cannot be used 10 interfere
with the efficiency Of the service or tae
Just rights Of the carriers.
2 A. one Of the means Of accom-.
pliahlng this. a system Of compulsory
federal incorporation should BE- adopt.
ed. into which should be brought all
railroad corporations engaged In inter.
state or foreign commerce.
q The Interstate Commerce Commits.
sion under existing laws has too much
to do and II charged with conflicting
functions. including the investigation
prosecution aud decision OF cascs. The
latter duties should be placed IN the
hands OF a new body which might be
called tho Federal Railroad Commits
sion. Regional Commissions should
he established In different parts OF
the country 10 assist tho Interstate
Commerce Commission by handling To-
cal cases
& Tho power OF the Commission
should be extended 20 enable Il 20 pre-
scribe minimum rates and not merely
maximum rate. as AZ present This
would increase their power 10 prevent
unjust Determinations.
Justice 70 Public and Roads.
O. n should be made the duty OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission. IN
the exercise Of its powers 20 IN rea.
.snable rates. 10 10 adjust these rates
that they shall be Just az once % the
public and 90 the carriers. To this end
The Commission. In determining rates.
should consider the necessity OF main.
taining efficient transportation and en-.
tensions OF facilities. the relation OF
expenses 10 rates and the rights OF
shippers. stockholders ard creditors %
tho roads.
q Tho Interstate Commerce Commits
don should be invested with the pow.
cr 60 az the rates Tor carrying nails.
ut huuulU
nave exclusive power 20 supervise the
,ssue OF stocks and bonds by railroad
arriers engaged In interstate and for.
,iEn commerce,
&. The law should recognize the e..
.ential difference between things which
restrain trade In the case OF ordinary
mercantile concerns and those which
restrain trade In the case OF common
arriers. The question OF competition
. not the only fair criterion.
O. The law should expressly provide
for the meeting aud agreement OF traf.
Nc or other officers Of railroads IA re-
spect OF rates or practices. This
should. however. he safeplA rded by
requiring the agreements 10 bA flled
with the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion aud 90 be subject 20 be disapprov.
"a by Il.
My legal proposition" Mr.. Thorn
aid. rs that the Constitution as II
now Ia gives full authority 20 Congress
20 regulate the instrumentallties OF IN.
erstate commerce In all their parts
II the power of regulation Is 90 reach
he public requirements. Il must be co.
extensive with the instrumentalities Of
'ommerce."
Mr.. Thorn explained that the roads
re not asking either OF the Committee
" OF Congress any Increase In reye-
nues, but that they are merely asking
the perfection 81 q system which will
30 responsible ts any need that ms,
aKiaA