The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-08
COMMISSION URGES
IMPORTANT CHANGES
Radical Departures From Long Estab-
lished Methods Favored In
Railroad Control.
PREVENT INTIMIDATION
Body Thinks IL Should Have Author
ity In Matter of capitalization of
Observation-Disclosures Work Being
Done.

NdSH!nEtont Dec. i.-~ftaHFdt ue-
partures from long esta blished meth
DDS of railroad regulation in the
United states are recommended to
Congress in the annual report of the
Interstate Commerce Commission
made public today. The last year.
the report says, has changed the per-
spective OF the country as to many
situations. The European war has
been an important factor in the af-
fairs of American railroads. and to
that struggle and elements in the
domestic situation arising out of it is
attributed the need for several
changes.
Taking up the car shortage situa-
ton in the United States, the COM
mission declares that the business of
the country has increased 50 rapidly
that new legislation should be enact
ed, giving the commission regulatory
powers over the movement of freight
cars in order that the demand for
cars to keep commodities moving to
points where they are most needed.
thereby for Sailing famines, may be
met. The report also says that there
is need for increased terminal facil-
tiles at most big cities and ports.
The railroad business of the coun-
try has increased 10 such an extent.
the report says, that the present
membership of the Interstate Com
merce Commission cannot handle all
the work II is given to perform. An
increase in the commission from
seven to nine members is urged upon
Congress.
The Panama Canal act provides
that boat lines may not be owned and
operated by railroads which serve the
same territory. Under this act the
commission divorced the Great Lake
boat lines from their railroad owners
and Invested the Pennsylvania and
other railroads of their boat lines on
Chesapeake Bay. The important case
of the New York. New Haven and
Hartford boat lines. operating in New
England waters, now is pending be-
fore the commission The report, is
sued today. says that there is much
protest on the part of the general pub
lie against such a policy because IL
tends TO impair transportation facili-
ties which are much needed. The
commission says it is practically help
less in the face of the letter of the
law and lays the matter before Con-
gress. believing that that body may
desire to amend the law TO meet the
public demand.
To Prevent Intimidation.
The commission asks Congress for
more power to prevent the intimida =
ton of witnesses appearing before it.
This recommendation is understood to
hayn Tho nrnceaS N o.
of the commission in it's investigation
of headlights. IT was alleged thnt GER
tain labor unions which desired rail-
road trains equipped with electric
headlights threatened to discharge
from their unions any railroad en-
gineers who testified before the COM
mission they did not believe the cleo
trio headlights desirable.
In connection with the long drawn
out controversy over transcon tinentai
railroad rates. the commission reports
that il now Is seeking To esta biish a
more permanent basis for these rates
than has obtained heretofore.
An echo of the tremendous NUM-
ton explosion at Black Tom Island,
IN New York harbor last summer. is
contained in the report. the commits
sion recommending that more string
ent regulation OF shipments of explo-
sives be had. 1t suggests that State
and municipal authorities should ex-
ercise rigorous police power over rail-
roads handling explosives
Jurisdiction Over Capital.
In connection with the pending con-
troversy over the relative merits of
State and Federal regulation of rail-
ways the commission says that 1t
should he empowered to cooperate
with State railroad commissions in
adjusting rate disputes. However. the
commission recommends that 1t he
given exclusive jurisdiction over rail-
way capitalization.
The commission estimates that the
work of physical valuation of rail-
roads so far as track surveys are
concerned will be completed by Janu-
airy l, 1920. There will be some sup
Elementary work thereafter, however
ii Ia stated. About so. 900 miles a year
of railroads are being valued.
The commissions report includes
statement showing net income OF
American railways from 1891 to 1916.
In 1891 net income OF the roads
amounted to s331.593.4 07 and in 1916.
s1.021. 030.s44 Nineteen-si sixteen was
he-arst- yearIths- income went oyer
the billion-dollar mark.