The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1916-12-08
CONGRESSIONAL
COMM ITTEE BEGINS
RAILWAY INQUIRY
Proposed by President to Bot
ter Condition of Carriers.
MAY CHANGE PRESENT SYSTEM
Officials of Roads Prepared to Advocate
Federal Incorporation, Supervision Of
Securities and Extension of Authority
of Interstate Commerce Commission.

Washington. Nov. 20.-Ten members
of Congress. five Senators and FIVE
members of the House of Representa-
tives, began here today an inquiry into
the subject of public control and SUI
pervision of railroads that may lead to
the revolutioniZing 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
AMI 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
he done for lettering the conditions
under which the railroads are operated
ana for making them more useful sery-
ants Of the country as a whole"
Prominent Men as Witnesses.
In order to obtain the views of all
interests affected by the operations of
the transportation lines the committee
has invited prominent shippers, bank
crs, representatives of commercial or
ganizations, railway executives, econo-
mists 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-
ing any enlargement of the federal
authority over commerce that would
detract from the powers now exercised
by state bodies. They will be followed
shortly by officials of railway labor
organizations who are expected to reg
lister their opposition to the increase
of governmental authority over wages
and conditions Of labor.
NHicl Interest In the hearings cell
tors in the proposals that will be put
forward Ivy representatives of the rail-
roads. for il is reported that they will
advocate an extension of federal au-
thol1ty over rates and securities to the
practical exclusion of state control of
these matters. 1t is understood also that
thry viii 30 on record I'll favor of fed
cral Incorporation Of all railroad lines
Legislative Program of Railroads.
From an authoritative source is OBJ
timed the following outline of the leg
iSlative program which the railroads
will ask the committee to consider i'm
lis investigation: They will endeavor
10 demonstrate to the commission that
one of the principal defects in the pres
ent system of railroad regulation is
The lack of coordination resulting from
me simultaneous and conflicting regu-
lation by the federal government and
by the AZ states. They WILL therefore,
ask that entire governmental contros
OF the rates and practices of Interstate
carriers, except purely local natter.