The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1916-12-13
Only Way to Meet Emergencies
Of Nation, Says A. P. Thorn.
STATES RIGHTS PRESERVED

Washington, Dec. i.-Thnt the Inter.
csts OF national defense require that
control Of railway lines should rest
with the federal government and no.
with the states wns the claim nd.
vanccd by Alfred l.. Thorn. counsel
to tho Railway Executives Advisory
Committee. In concluding his prellm.
innry statement OF the case for tho
railways before the Newlands Joint
Committee on Interstate Commerce.
I'VE must be efficient as nation II
we are to deal successfully with our
national emergencies" said Mr.. Thorn,
'hnd we must appreciate that efficient
transportation is an essential condition
OF national efficiency. II we are to
halt and weaken our transportation
systems by state lines, by the perma-
ncnt imposition OF burdens by unwisc
regulation. we will make national eff
cheney impossible"
states' Flights Would Not Suffer-.
Mr.. Thorn cited many Instances in
which shippers in one state were In.
Juriously affected by selfish rcgula.
tons imposed on tho railroads by
ncighboring states. lie pointed out
that federal regulation would be no In.
ynsion of the rights of the states but
would he the means OF preserving the
rights which they acquired when they
entered the Union. one OF which was
the right to tho free movement OF their
products across state boundaries.
What tho 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:
l. The entire power and duty OF res
ulation should be In the hands OF tho
national government, except MS 10 mat
tcrs so essentially local and incidental
that they cannot be nscd TO Interfere
with the efficiency OF the service or the
just rights of the carriers.
=. As one OF the means OF accom-
plishine this, system OF compulsory
federal incorporation should be adopt.
ed. into which should bc brought nll
railroad corporations engaged in inter.
SNhAt - AbAtAhh
3. The Interstate Commerce Commits.
sion under existing laws has too much
TO do and is charged with conflicting
functions, including the Investigation
prosecution aud decision OF cases. The
latter duties should be placed In tho
hands OF new body which might be
called the Federal Railroad Commits
sion. Regional Commissions should
be established In different parts OF
the country to assist the Interstate
Commerce Commission by handling 10.
cal cases.
4. The power OF the Commission
should he extended TO enable Il 10 pre-
5, ribe minimum rates and not merely
maximum rates as at present This
would increase their power to prevent
unjust Determinations.
Justice 20 Public and Rosds.
D. 1t should be made the duty or the
Interstate Commerce Commission, In
the exercise OF Its powers TO TX REQ.
soneble rates, TO so adjust these rates
that they shall be Just ut once TO The
public and TO the carriers. To this end
the Commission, in determining rates,
should consider the necessity OF main.
tanning efficient transportation and ex.
tensions OF facilities. the relation OF
expenses to rates and tho rights OF
shippers, stockholders and creditors OF
| the roada.
q The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion should be invested with the pow.
er TO fix the rates for carrying mails.
7. The federal government should
have exclusive power 70 supervise the
issue OF stocks and bonds by railroad
carriers engaged In Interstate and for.
eign commerce.
8. The law should recognize the Ca
sentiRl difference between things which
restrain trade In the case OF ordinary
mcrcS ntllc concerns and those which
restrain trade in the case OF common
carriers. The question OF competition
Ii not the only fair criterion.
0. The law should expressly provide
for the meeting and agreement OF traf.
flc or ether officers OF railroads in re-
sptct Of rates or practices This
should. however. DO safcSuardcd by
icquiring the agreements to he filed
with the Interstate Commerce Commits.
sion and to be subject to be dlsapproy.
ed by It.
"My legal proposition" Mr.. Thorn
said. lis that the Constitution rs It
now is gives full authority 10 Congress
to regulate the instrumcntalltics OF In
terstatc commerce in all their parts
II the power OF regulation is to reach
the public requirements. II must be co.
offensive with tho instrumentalitiea o!
| commerce"
| Mr.. Thorn explained that the roads