The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-02-08
TRANSPORTATION
breaking Down D ! !III.N!!.
Must Do Better Or Public
Ownership Will Come,
Says Underwood.
NV Aseociated Prcss)

(By Associated Press)
n CHICAGO, Feb. S.---"Takenl as a
whole the transportation system OF the
United states, SO far as performing
lis proper functions in the transporta-
ton OF our freIghts to their ultimate
markets and the carriage Of passen-
gers to their destination with safety
and economy, is breaking down." said
Senator oscar w. Underwood OF Ala
bama in an address delivered last
night at a dtnEer OF the American
Electric Railway Association and the
American Electric Railway Manufac-
turars Association, after he had re-
viewed number OF the handtcaps
under which the railroad system Ia
bored today.
II there were no Improvement, he
said the country would demand gov
eminent ownership, but such a result
he thought would be unfortunate, ana
he favored the Golden Mean" along
the lines OF private ownership ana
government regulation.
"We must consider" he said, the
wisdom OF government supervision OF
the issuance OF all securities by our
transportation companies with the
assurance to the public that new cap
ttal will be invested to secure proper
facilities and used for legitimate pur-
poses-not for speculation. We must
assure the public that when they in
vest money In railway securities.
which are supervised by government
regulation. we stand for system of
regulation which will allow the trans
portation companies to charge sucn
rates for carriage as will enable them
to promptly meet their interest &C
counts as well as, their operating ex
pensea. We must perfect system OF
regulation that will recognize that the
transportation lines OF America are
great public highways In which the
people are as much Interested as
those who have invested their capltal
in them, that every shipper IN Amerl'
ca must have equal right IN the trans.
portation Of his goods along those
highways and that rebates ana ols.
criminations Of all kinds must ~ q
the past and prohibited IN the tuture,
and we must recognize tnat tne mar tS.
who is willing to invest his money at
a moderate rate Of interest in rail-
road securities is not exploiting the
nnhIic hut Is a public benefactor.
ave must consider the wisdom OF
substituting one master for the forty
nine masters that regulate our com
merce today. The main trouble with
the regulation OF our railway system
ia that corporate law has been de-
structive, not constructive, has been
neace.n1eal not comprehensive.
"The President Of the United
ct.+e. N hfe recent message to Con-
eress has recommended that a Com
mission Should be appointed to give
thorough investigation to all tns
problems that confront us in the Held
Of TRANSFORMATION. AS understand
the purpose Of this investigation, 1t Is
not to hold an inquest OF what hao
happened in the past. II errors nave
been committed or injuries have been
done. that is a question for the courts
and not for legislation. The real pur-
nose to. be accomplished by the inyes-
tigation Is to give an opportunity TOT
ali concerned-the farmer, the mer-
chant. those directly engaged in trans
nortation. the Interstate Commerce
Commission, and the railroad mana
gers to appear before a committee
Of Congress and state their views IN
referenceito solution of this great
problem with the view in mlna tnas
in the council OF many we shall find
wisdom to guide our legislative
course.
LET us hope that the result OF this
investigation will be productive o.
wise legislation Legislation that VIII
build up and not destroy
that will be helpful and not harmful
legislation that will bring lasting and
complete prosperity to the people OF
America"
Senator Underwood added that in
his opinion adequate transportation
facilities for this country, both from
the standpoint Of service and safety,
would mean roadbeds more secure and
permanent, enormous increase In
trackage, safety equipment, and the
Improvement and extension OF terml'
nal facilities"