The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-04
Newlands Resolution for
 Probe of Railroads to Be Accepted by House
THOM DECLARES .t
 ROADS ARE WILLING
Are Anxious to Have One Master Tn. stead of 4S-Sentiment Fayors Thorough and Sweeping h.
 vestigation of Subject
By HUGH ". ROBERTS

Washington, D. C., March 3.-(Special.) The impression prevails that in view of the probable acceptance by the House of the Newlands resolution, al ready accepted by the Senate the Ray burn bill providing for government regulation of railroad securities and the Alfred P. Thom suggestion of com pulsory federal incorporation, should be held in abeyance.
 The Newlands resolution, as hereto fore reported in this correspondence provides for thorough investigation into the entire railroad question, the object being so to remedy conditions that the common carriers may be made to bear a just portion of the burden of taxation. and at the same time so fortified that they may earn a req sonable return on their investments.
 So broad is the intention of the New lands solution-emb odying, as a matter of fact, the recommendation Of President Wilson-that no serious op- position was offered in the Senate to the incorporation of the Borah amend ment providing for a consideration of
 
 THE THOM IDEA
 / The Newland resolution. having passed the Senate, is now pending be- fore the House committee on interstate and foreign commerce. Before the same committee is the Rayburn bill providing for government control of railroad securities. Before the commit tee recently appeared Colonel Thom, general counsel of the Southern Rail- way company, speaking for the rail- way executives advisory committee representing S4 per cent of the rail- \ roads of the country.
 Colonel Thom, who is well known in every city into which the Southern road extends, intimated very plainly before the committee that the railroads of the country are more than willing to suffer the proposed investigation There was left an impression that the railroads are anxious-that they have ' one master, the federal government, rather than AS masters in the govern rnents of the several states. He in formed the committee, furthermore, that the railroads would favor com X pulsory federal incorporation-that Is, aSa requiring all railroads to incer- porate under the laws of the national government just as at present they are incorporated under the laws of the states through which they oper- ate. N5t a4
 PLAN IS POPULAR
 There prevails in Congress an idea that the railroad question in it's every phase should be investigated. Such a
 
 can be had only in the adoption of a resolution as sweeping as that pro- posed by Senator Newlands. As a re- suit of that sentiment the existing opinion that the Rayburn bill, the Thom suggestion and all other inde- pendent movements, should be held in abeyance, is explained.
 THE NEW ISSUE
 The Newlands resolution passed the Senate without notable opposition and it is regarded as certain that the House will also take favorable action. In that event a committee representative of the members of both houses of Con- gress will be raised, and, according to the programme, the investigation, sweeping and thorough, will be ex- tended throughout several months of the ensuing recess period. Questions [. of rates and rate making, special, in imicable, temporary and variable leg islation, taxation, securities, regulation and control, will be carefully consid- cred and bill prepared, in all proba- bility, providing for the establishment of rates by the broadened and more powerful interstate commerce commits sion which shall be applicable to each of the states of the union.
 The Newlands resolution and ideas embodied in attendant bills is regard ed as the most far-reaching matter be- fore Congress today. That, as result of the verdict of Congress, new and absorbing business issue in politics will be created, is regarded as highly probable.