West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-12-21
PLAN TO RESUME
RAILWAY INQUIRY
AFTER MARCH 4TH
P0Sllol8n8nf Forced by Press
OF Congressional Business.
COUNTRY OEMANDS ACTION

4 Shipper, Investors and Representa-
tives Of Al Branches Of Business Do
nand Unifieation of System Of Rail-
way ROsulstion-Roa5s AK Fewer
Masters.
Washington. Dec. IS The Congress
sional Joint Committee on Interstate
Commerce, which has been conducting
the Inquiry into government regulation
and control OF transportation. last
week decided to suspend its hearings
on the subject and adjourned. subject
To the call OF the chairman. because OF
the pressure OF other work before Con-
gress. According TO the resolution Gre
/ atng the committee. it Is required to
submit a report by January Sth next
/ II is understood that before that time
! the committee will ask for an exten.
sion OF time and that the hearings will
| be resumed at later date, when some
! OF those who already have appeared
/ before tho committee will be question
| cd further and n great many others
I Will be heard 1t IS probable, howev.
/ or, that the hearings will not be resum-
/ ed until after adjournment OF Congress
/ on March fun. In addition To regular
! routine business the commerce com
/ miticcs Of the two houses are charged
| with the important duty OF preparing
| and presenting the legislation asked
| for 10y President Wilson 10 make i'm
/ possible a railroad strike without pre-
| vious Investigation. This will leave
/ little or no time for the consideration
OF the general questions OF railway
! regulation
Country Wants Something Done.
| Members OF Congress and others
| who are interested In the inquiry I'M
I dcrtaken by the Newlands Committee
| insist that there is no intention Of
abandoning g.
It seems doubtful, indeed, If the
! country would permit the matter 10
! be dropped If there were evidence OF
! desire ON the part of Congress TO do
So The nationwide evidences OF in
terest evoked by the initiation of the
! Ncwlunds inquiry show that the pep
| pie OF the country-shlppers consum-
| ers and investors, MS well as railway
| mon themselves alive to the fact
| that the railway situation Is highly un.
| satisfactory aud that steps must be
! taken without unnecessary delay to
! make 30 possible for the railroads to
/ meet the growing needs of the nation.
| From reports received here IL seems
as though almost every commercial or
! ganiZaGon and business interest In the
| country were engaged in studying the
railroad question. The Chamber OF
| Commerce Of the United States has
! been conducting an elaborate inquiry
into various phases of the subject for
! many months past. Many local and
| state commercial bodies i'm every part
of the country have committees en-
| gagged i'm study of the problem and
! have Indicated a desire to come here
! aud present their views. National or
! CARNATIONS OF manufacturers, lumber
men, coal operators, wholesale and re-
! tail dealers have expressed through
| resolutions their desire for the unifica-
| ton OF the system OF railway regula-
| Ton. The National Industrial Traffic
| League, speaking from the viewpoint
! or shippers using the railways. has
| Endorsed exclusive federal regulation
providing it is accomplished i'm such n
| way as TO give full protection and
prompt adjustment In matters relating
TO transportation within the states.
Many interests Studying Problem.
All these ORGANIZATIONS represent pri-
| marlly the shippers OF the country. but
! they are not the only ones who are
! taking hand in the discussion. The
! investors of the nation. through their
| own so.iaious ana through commit
! tees repre- cu,mg The savings banks and
| other financial organizations. are pre-
/ pairing TO show the necessity of improv.
ing railroad credit and protecting the
| RIGHTS of those whose money is invest
! ed I'm railway securities. Finally the
railroads themselves, being vitally con
! ccruad in the Improvement OF existing
| conditions are planning TO submit their
] views through their executives. oper
| ntiug officials and traffic experts and
! TO assert ilCir willingness to accent far
/ ronchIue federal regulation along lines
! That win enable them TO attract capitaI
/ and lo Iroydc the facilities needed for
| thc prompt ana efficient handling OF
! Che country transportation business
Main Trouble Is Too Many Masters.
! Not al OF these interests are I'm nc
/ cord os to Dice remedies that should no
! adopted There seems to be n general
| agreement however. that many of tho
/ di'hDiIN which confront the railroads
1 md which mako 90 impossible for tbem
/ to meet the requirements of the no.
/ lions commerce promptly ana sausfac.