The Sneedville news. (Sneedville, Tenn.) 191?-19??, 1916-12-01
CONGRESSIONAL
COMAlTTEE BEGINS
RAIL WAY INQUIRY
Proposed BY President 70 Bet-
tor Gondition Of Carriers.
.MAY CHANGE PRESENT SYSTEM

Officials of Roads Prepared 70 Aovoescs
Federal incorporation, Supervisien OF
Securities and Extension OF Authority
of Interstate Commerce Commission.
washington. Nov. a0.-Ten members
bf Congress, five Senator's and nve
members 'bf the House OF Representa-
tives, began here today AN inquiry into
The subject OF public control ana su-
pervision OF railroads that may lead to
the revolutiomizing 0f'the whole scheme
If governmental regulation OF the co'ln-
RVS transportation lines. Incidentally
The committee is to look into the dues-
lion Of government ownership of rail-
WAYS, telephone and telegraph lines
snd express companies.
The members Of the committee
which will conduct this important IN
Sestigation are Senator Newlands or
Ncynda. chairman: Senators Iiobilsoii
III Arkansas. Underwood OF Alabama.
Cummins OF Iowa and Brandcgee o'
Connecticut, and Representatives All
anison of Georgia. Sims Of Tennessee,
'CuIlop or Indiana. Esch Of Wisconsin
AN! Hamilton Of Michigan. The In
'uuiry was recommended by President
Wilson IN his message to Congress III
Iccembcr OF last year He dcscribeu
as It's purpose to determine wbat coill
be done "for beitering the conditions
under which the railroads are operihed
AMI for making them more useful serV'
nnts Of the country as n Whole
Prominent Men - Witnesses.
IN order 10 obtain the views OF at
interests affected 10y the operations oi
the TRANSFORMATION lines the committed
has invited prominent shippers, bank
'trs, representatives 0f commercial or
ganizations, railway executives, econo
l'mists and others 10 appear before them
The first to lie heard are railroad
commissioners of various states VIII
, began their evidence today. Thcfi
I'icstiulopy rs directed chicny- 20 oi'l''ns
ing any enlargement Of the fedora
authority over commerce that woul.
ictraet from The powers now exercised
'by state bodies. They Will bc followc'
shortly by officials Of railway labnI
organizations who are expected Ia re-"
lister their opposition To the incfcaS'
bf governmental authority over wage
and conditions Of labor.
Chief interest IN the hearings cen
ters In the proposals that will he pa
forward by representatives Of the rail-
r6ads. fdr T. T. reported tiot the vii
advocate an extension of federal at
'ih"rty over rates and securities 10 In,
practical exclusion of state control oi
these matters. II is understood also thai
they will 90 on record in favor OF fed
crnl incorporation of all railroad lines
Legislative Program OF Railroads.
From an authoritative source u oh
famed the following outline of the lc.
islntive program which the railroads
will ask the committee To consider III
IT, investigation: They will clidenvo'
to demonstrate 'to the commission that
one of the principal defects IN the pres
INT system nf railtoad regulation Is
the lack uf coordination resulting from
ihc simultaneous ami ciuIlic,ing rcgu
Iation hy the federal government and
by the ~ states. They will. therefore
ask that entire governmental control
of the rates and practices "f interstate
Carriers. except purely local matters
be placed IN the hands of federal
body So that Interstate traffic may bC
y, gulatcd without reference Ia state
lines. leaving Ia the state commissions
/ Jurisdiction only over local matters and
local public utilities. A. part of ih's
pIar. n compulsory system ~ federal
Incorporation il 10 bc recommended
accompanied hr federal supervision o'
railroad stock aT'l bond issues.
4 Reorganization 6f the Interstate
ly'onmerrc Commission viii hc asked
| IN order 10 enable the commission prop
prlv 10 exercise its increased powers
N l. also proposed that the preparation
and prosecution NJ eases against Tho
railroads shall bc delegated To- stir,
bihcr agency of tho government. l'osSi
bly the Department Of Justlcc. sb thai
/ inc commission may devote its oncr
-irs ia iis administrative functions
With the commission thus rcii"y"'
/ n .uluc Il it~ prt.-rui 'luii's aud equip
l isr.,I tu I,an,iic it, business Iu"re prompt
i, a.. r.iiI .a'l~ Win ur-.~ tb.i tie i,e
nj ia. .n- vhi.' ~" '''mmi~~i"I' In.:y
/ Row .'.-1,rId !r'.-'-'-d in-rra>'s if
rate. T.. r.-ig.-i ir.n5 f'-u r1'"''hs p