American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1916-12-09
SAFETY DEMANDS
FEDERAL CONTROL
OF The fAlLROADs
Only Way TO Mes; laarrpn,j,,
Of Nation, SaJS A. P. Thorn
STATES RIGHTS pRESERyEn

principles Which Railway, uo,as,
Govern Regulatory system /, I nc
ests OF Public and the Ro,a. wv"
puisory System Of Fed,,,I S'm'l
ration Favored. '''po'I
Washington. Dec. 4.-Tbo, -.
ests OF national defense reoul,,
control of railway lines sbon,a T
with the federal government, o., "l
with the states was tho olaf
Vanced by Alfred p Thorn, eoun..
to the Railway Executives No.
Committee, in concluding his pro,.I
mary statement of the case for ,AJ
railways before the Newlapds ,o,.J
Committee on Interstate Commoroo
I'VE must be efficient as po,,o, ii
we are to deal successfully with o.J
national emergencies, said Mr. Thou
"and we must appreciate that efc,..,l
transportation Is an essential cordiv."
OF national efficiency. II we ara 81
halt and weaken our transport,no,I
systems by state lines. by the na,m,
nent imposition Of burdens by unvI..l
regulation. we will make national on |
cheney impossible"
States Rights Would Not suH.,
Mr.. Thorn cited many instances /,
which shippers In one state were IN
juriously affected by selfish recula
lions imposed on the railroads h,
neighborlng states. lie pointed ou
that federal regulation would be no IN.
vasion Of the rights of the states bu,
would be the means Of preserving tbs
rights which they acquired when Their
entered the Union, one OF which va,
the right to the free movement OF their
products across state boundaries
What the Railroads Advocate.
The principles which the railroads
believe should be incorporated In any
just system OF regulation were sum
married. by Mr.. Thorn as follows:
I. The entire power and duty OF reg
ulation should DO in the hands Of The
national government. except as to mat
tiers so essentially local and incidental
that they cannot be used to interfere
with the efficiency Of the service or tIs|
just rights OF the carriers.
2. As one of the means Of accom-
plishing this, system Of compulsoy|
federal incorporation should he adopt
ed. into which should be brought all
railroad corporations engaged In Inter
state or foreign commerce.
3. The Interstate Commerce Commls
sion under existing laws has too much
to do and is charged with conflicting
functions. including the investigation
prosecution and decision OF cases, The
latter duties should be placed In the
hands of new body which might be
called the Federal Railroad COmms
sion. Regional Commissions should
be established In different parts 81
the country to assist the interstate
Commerce Commission by landings
cal cases.
4. The power OF the CommlSM
should he extended to enable II to pre- |
scribe minimum rates and not mercy
maximum rates as at present Ias
would increase their power to pTe'eu
unjust determinations.
Justice to Public and Roads
8. II should be made the duty OF 'N
Interstate Commerce Commission
the exercise OF Its powers to OK 'a
sOnable rates, to so adjust these ra'o
that they shall be just at once 10 @
public and to the carriers. To thls CIV
the Commission, In determining ra'e
should consider the necessity OF uAr
tanning efficient transportation ana p
tensions OF facilities, the relation
expenses to rates and the rlshs
shippers, stockholders aud credlloS"
the roads.
O. The Interstate Commerce CoHlns
sion should be invested with the po'
er to fix the rates for carrying n'a''
7. The federal government spVu'
have exclusive power TO supervise ID,
issue of stocks and bonds by rall'.''
carriers engaged In interstate anu !"
elgn commerce.
s. The law should recognize 'ne
sentlal difference between things WIN
restrain trade In the case OF oru''a
mercantile concerns and those "ua
restrain trade In the case OF COLLIE
carriers. The question OF compe'"'
is,not the only fair criterion "a
o. The law should expressly pr,
for the meeting and agreement " '" "a
iic or other officers OF railroauS IN.
spect OF rates or practices NJ
should, however, be safeguarue's ,sl
requiring the agreements 10 Uni,
with the Interstate Commerce ou an,O,,
sion and to be subject TO I've d'SaP'
ed by Il. rnou
my legal proposition M =. h
said. "is that the Constltu''on ',s,,ss
now Is gives full authority 10 1D n 10
to regulate the observation-disclosures .d,
terstate commerce in all Their p a.sb
If the mower Of regulation Is TO 's' 20
the public requirements It mus ',tlss d
extensive with the lnsHume"''
commerce" 49,. ,oads
Mr.. Thorn explained that tne a,,tee
4 ~