The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-12-11
SAFETY DEMANDS
FEDERAL CONTROL
OF THE RAILROADS
Only Way 10 Meet Emergencies
Of Nation, Says A. P. Thorn.
STATES RIGHTS PRESERVED
Principles Which Railways Hold Should
Govern Regulatory System In Inter
ssts Of Public and the Roads-Com-
pulsory System Of Federal lneorPo.
ration Favored.

ration Favored.
Washington, Dec. THAT the inter
ests Of national defense require that
control OF railway lines should rest
with the federal government and not
with the states was the claim ad-
vanced by Alfred p. Thorn, counsel
TO the Railway Executives Advisory
Committee, in concluding his prelim-
mary statement of the case for the
railways before the Newlands Joint
Committee on Interstate Commerce.
1--WE must be efficient as a nation II
we are to deal successfully with our
national emergencies" said Mr Thorn,
and 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-
nent imposition OF burdens by unwise
regulation, we will make national EN-
cheney impossible"
States Rights Would Not Suffer.
Mr.. Thorn cited many Instances In
which shippers in one state were III
iuriously affected by selfish reguIa-
tions imposed on the railroads by
neighborIng states. He pointed out
that federal regulation would be no IN
yasion Of the rights OF the states but
would be the means OF preserving the
rights which they acquired when they
entered the Union, one OF which was
the right to the free movement OF their
products across state boundaries.
What the 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;
I. The entire power and duty of reg
ulation should be in the hands OF the
national government, except as to mat
ters so essentially local and incidental
that they cannot be used to interfere
with the efficiency OF the service or the
Just rights Of the carriers.
Q AS one Of the means OF accom-
pishing this, a system of compulsory
federal incorporation should be adopt
ed into which should be brought all
railroad corporations engaged in inter
state or foreign commerce.
2. The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion under existing laws has too much
to do and is charged with conflicting
functions, including the investigation
prosecution and decision of cases. The
latter duties should be placed In the
hands of new body which might be
called the Federal Railroad Commits
sion. Regional Commissions should
he established in different parts OF
the country to assist the Interstate
Commerce Commission by handling To-
cal cases.
The power of the Commission
should be extended to enable 1t to pre-
scribe minimum rates and not merely
maximum rates as at present. This
would increase their power to prevent
unjust determinations.
Justice to Public and Roads.
I II should be made the duty OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission, In
the exercise of its powers TO fix rea
sonable rates. to so adjust these rates
that they shall be just at once to the
public and to the carriers. To this end
the Commission, I'm determining rates
should consider the necessity OF main
tanning efficient transportation and ex
tensions OF facilities, the relation oil
expenses TO rates and the rights oi
shIppers, stockholders and creditors oI
the roads.
o. The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion should be invested with the pow
er to fix the rates for carrying mails.
I. The federal government SHOULD
have exclusive power TO supervise th'
issue OF stocks and bonds by railroad
carriers engaged In interstate and for
elgn commerce.
s. The law should recognize the es
sentIal difference between things whicl
restrain trade in the case OF ordinar.
mercantile concerns and those whicl
restrain trade in the case OF common
carriers. The question OF competitioi
IS not the only fair criterion.
o. The law should expressly provid
for the meeting and agreement OF traf
ic or other officers OF railroads in re
spect OF rates or practices. Thi
should, however, be safeguarded b.
requiring the agreements to be file
with the Interstate Commerce Commis
sion and to be subject to be diSapproy
cd by 1t.
my legal proposition" Mr.. Thor
said. "is that the Constitution as
now is gives full authority to Congress
10 regulate the instrumentalities of II
terstate commerce in all their part'
II the power Of regulation is TO reac
the public requirements, II must he &C
extensive with the instrumentalities
commerce.
Mr.. Thorn explained that the road
are not asking either Of the Committe
or Of Congress any increase in rev'
nues. but that they are merely askin
the perfection Of a system which wi
be responsible to any need that ma
arise.