The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1916-11-29
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEE BEGINS
RAILWAY INQUIRY
Proposed by President to Bet
tor Condition of Carriers.
MAY CHANGE PRESENT SYSTEM

Officials Of Roads Prepared 20 Advocate
Federal incorporation, Supervision Of
Securities and Extension of Authority
of Interstate Commerce Commission.
Washington, Nov. 2o--Tcn members
OF Congress, five Senators and five
members OF the House OF Representa-
tivcs. began here today an Inquiry Into
the subject of public control and su-
peryision OF railroads that may lead to
the rcvolutionizing 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 viii conduct this important in.
vestigatlon 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 GcorGia. Sims OF Tennessee,
Cullop OF Indiana. Esch OF Wisconsin
AMI Hamilton OF Michigan. The in
CURRY was recommended by President
Wilson in his message TO Congress In
December Of last year. He described
SIS Its purpose TO determine what could
be done "for lettering the conditions
under which the railroads are operated
and for making them more useful sery-
ants OF the country as n whole"
Prominent Mon aa Witnesse,.
In order to obtain the views OF all
interests affected by the operations OF
the transportation lines the committee
has invited prominent shippers. bank.
ers, representatives OF commercial or
ganizations. railway executives, ccono-
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.
Chief interest In the hearings cen
tiers In the proposals TINT viii be put
forward by representatives OF the rail.
roads. for IT is reported that they viii
advocate an extension OF federal au.
thority over rates ana securities 10 the
practical exclusion of state control OF
these matters. 1t is understood also that
they Will 20 on record ,n favor Of fed.
eral incorporation OF all railroad lines
Legislative Program of Railroads.
From an authoritative source IL OBJ
tanned the following outline OF the leg
isiative program which the railroads
will ask the committee TO consider In
Its investigation: They Will endcnyor
TO demonstrate TO the commission that
one OF the principal defects in the prea.
ent system OF railroad regulation is
the lack OF coordination resulting from
the simultaneous and conflicting reeu.
lation by the federal government and
by the IS states. They will. therefore,
ask that entire governmental control
OF the rates and practices OF interstate
carriers. except purely local matters.
be placed In the hands OF n federal
body so that interstate traffic may be
regulated without reference 10 state
lines, leaving 10 the state commissions
jurisdiction only over local matters and
local public utilities. AS part of this
plan, a compulsory system OF federal
incorporation is 70 be recommended.
accompanied by federal supervision OF
railroad stock and bond issues.
A reorganization OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission will be asked,
IN order TO enable the commission prop.
erly to exercise Its increased powers.
1t IS also proposed tha. the preparation
and prosecution OF cases against the
railroads shall be delegated to some
other agency OF the government, posi-
bly, the Department OF Justice, so that
the commission may devote It's ener.
giles to It's administrative functions.
With the commission thus relieved
OF some OF It's present duties and equip.
ped to handle Its business more prompt.
ly. the railroads will urge that the pc.
riod during which the commission may
now suspend proposed increases I'm
rates he reduced from ten months to
60 days. with provision for PREPARATION
TO be paid to the shippers II the ad.
vance shall be declared unreasonable.
They will also ask that the commits