Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-11-29
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEE BEGINS
RAILWAY INQUIRY
Proposed BY President to Bet-
tor Condition Of Carriers
MAY CHANGE PRESENT SYSTEM
Ofsicials Of Roads Prepared to Advocate
Federal Incorporation. Supervision Of
Securities and Extension Of Authority
Of Interstate Commsrcs Commission.

~.--:>.:~n
"
Washington. Nov. 20.-Ten members
OF Congress. five Senators and five
members OF the House of Representa-
tiyes began here today an inquiry into
the subject OF public control and su-
pervision of railroads that may lead to
the revolutionizing OF the whole scneme
VI governmental regulation OF the couh-
trys transportation lines. Incidentally
the committee is to look Int" the ques-
ton of government ownership or rail-
ways. telepnouc and telegraph lines
and express companies
The members OF the committee
which VIII conduct this important IN
vestication are Senator Newlands OF
.,evada. chairman; Senators Re 'inson
Of Arkansas, Underwood of Ala bama.
Cummins OF Iowa and Brandc, ee OF
Connecticut. and Representatives Ad-'
amson OF Georgia. Sims OF Tennessee.
Cullop n Indiana. Eseh OF Wisconsin
an! Hamilton Of Michigan. The In
Iuiry WAS res commended by President
Wilson in his message TO Congress In
December Of last year He described
as It's purpose to determine what could
he done for lettering the conditions
under which the railroads are operated
and for making them more useful serv-
ants Of the country as a whole"
Prominent Men n Witnesses.
I, oraar m o,,,,,n Tho xiews NJ MI
,,,oros.. .e.,e, ~. .h, o,,ar..,ors a,
,ha ,ro,snor,.,,o, ,,,os Tho co,,,,i,,a,
h,. ,,,,,ad ,-o,,,,,a,, sh,,na-. hont
ers representatives Of commercial or
CARNATIONS. RAILWAY executives. eceno
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 dire ted chiefly 10 opuos
Ing any enlargement of the federal
authority over commerce that would
detract from the mowers now exercised
by STATE bo,i'rs They will he followed
shortly ,ty officials Of railway labor
organizations who are expected 10 reg
ister their on,ositiop N rho ,,cre,se
or governmental sr,bor,tx over Wages
and conditions 81 labor
Chief in,eres, Il, tho hea1npe cen.
ter.s In Tho nro,,os,,s that vii, he mn,
forward nv re,resen,at,ves ~ rho rail.
roads for I, Is ranor,.a that they u,,p
advocate nm .xtens,,p ~ redar.t az.
thor;,v over ra,as md sacurit,e. 20 ,h.,
practical exclusion ~ state contro, of
thev will 20 on record On favor of fed
eral INCORPORATION Of ali railroad lines
..,-
r,o .,,sa-,..,,r
,.,.s ~. .s,,,'..,.'
,.,.,,,.s 80. .,~
vii, nc. rho co,r,n,,,aa 90 oons,a.- -
IT, ,,,r.,.,,,,..,:a,,. r,.,. "a, .s-
y, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ~. .....,. 49,.
mao ~ ,hs, rri,,i,., a.,,,,,, 4, ~. 80.
ON, s-s,am ~ rai,road ,.sri.,;n, !.
tho ,ack NJ coord;ratsor r.sr,,,nc ,-o,,,
the simultaneous and cont,,c,,ng rayu.
lation nv the feaer,I Government, ava
bv the a. states They wi,, th.,a,oro
ask that entire poverpment.I cortro,
OF the rates and prsctices Of interstate
carriers. EXCEPT purelv local mstters
be placed in the hands OF n federal
body so that interstate trafac NAV no
regulated without reference to state
lines. leaving to the state commissions
Jurisdiction only over local matter. and
local public utilities. As mart Of this
plan. a compulsory system OF fedora,
,pcorrorotto 4. 81 ~ .ns
accompanied by federal sunervi.,on ~
railroad stock and bond ,ssues
A reorganization Of tho Ipt.r.,.,o
comr,erce comm,ss,or v.,,, ~ s,,.s
in order N sn.,,,o ,ho oo,,,,,us.s
er,v ~ erer,.sa ,,s ,no-a.nss 10y
~ Il a,so nrnnosaa Tho, 49, n..,,..,a
~, r,n1,..,, :.