The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1916-12-28
PLAN TO RESUME
RAILWAY INQUIRY
AFTER MARCH 4TH
Posiponamant Forced by Press
Of Congressional Business.
COUNTRY DEMANDS ACTION

Shippers, investors and Representa-
tives Of All Branches OF Business De-
mand unheation Of System Of Rail-
way eguIation-Roads ASK Fewer
Masters.
4 Washington, Dec. ls.-The Congress.
sional Joint Committee on Interstate
Commerce, which has been conducting
the inquiry into government regulation
and control - transportation, last
week decided TO suspend it's hearings
on the subject and adjourned subject
10 the call OF the chairman, because Of
the pressure OF other work before Con
grcss According TO the resolution ere
ating tie committee, 1t IS required to
submit report by January sth next
/ II Is understood that before that time
the committee viii 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 the committee will be question
ed further and a great many others
/ will be heard. 1t Is probable howeY-
er, that the hearings will not be resum'
| ed until after adjournment of Congress
/ on March 4th. In addition to regular
routine business the commerce com
mittees of the two houses are charged
with the important duty of preparing
and presenting the legislation asked
for by President Wilson to 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
dertaken by the Newlands Committee
insist that there is no intention OF
abandoning it.
1t seems doubtful, indeed, If the
country would permit the matter to
be dropped IL there were evidence OF
desire on the part of Congress to DO
so The nation. wide evidences of IN
terest evoked by the initiation of the
Newlands inquiry show that the peo-
pie of the country shippers, consum-
ers and investors, as well as railway
men themselves alive to the fact
that the railway situation Is highly I'M
satisfactory and that steps must be
taken without unnecessary delay to
make 1t possible for the railroads to
meet the growing needs Of the nation.
From reports received here 1t seems
as though almost every commercial or
ganization 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 in every part
of the country have committees en-
gagged in study Of the problem and
nave lUulCdltu u ucSlIc W IOihC hNiN
and 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-
tion of the system Of railway regula-
ton. The National Industrial Traffic
League. speaking from the viewpoint
Of shippers using the railways, has
Endorsed exclusive federal regulation
providing it is accomplished in such a
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-
marily 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 associations and through commit
tees representing the savings banks and
other financial organizations, are pre-
pairing TO show the necessity OF improy-
ing railroad credit ana protecting the
rights of those whose money is invest.
ed IN railway securities Finally the
railroads themselves, being vitally con
cerned In the improvement of existing
are planning to submit their |
views through their executives. oper-
ating officials and traffic experts and |
IN ogcart thair WILLINGNESS IN accopt far
reaching federal regulation along lines |
that will enab,s them to attract capital
and to provide the facilities needed for
the prompt and efficient handling OF |
The country's transportation business.
Main Trouble Is Too Many Masters.
Not all Of these interests are In ac-
cord as TO the remedies that should be
There seems to be general