Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1916-12-08
mCONGRESSIO AL
COMMITTEE BEGINS
RAILWAY INQUIRY
Proposed by President 10 Be-
Ter Condition Of Carriers.
NAY CHANGE PRESENT SYSTEM

Of Interstate comma-,e ~commissios
Ten member.
o. congress. uve senators aud i've
members Of the House of Representa-
lives. began here today an inquiry into
the subject Of public control ana su
uerviSion Of railroads that my lead To
the revolutioulzing Of the Whole scheme
Of governmental regulation OF the coun
try's transportation lines. incidentally
the committee is 10 look into the qucs
ton OF government ownership of rail
ways telephone aud telegraph lines
aud express COMPANIES.
The members of the committee
which will conduct this important in.
ve~stieation are Senator Newlands Of
Nevada. chairman. Senators Robinson
Of Arkansas. Underwood Of Alabama
Cummins Of Iowa and Brandegee of
Connecticut. and Representatives Ad
amSon OF Georgia. sims Of Tennessee
CulIop of Indiana. Esch Of Wisconsin
and Hamilton Of Michigan. The in
uuiry was recommended by President
Wilson in his message to Congress In
December of last year lie described
as its purpose to determine what could
be done "ror lettering the conditions
under which the railroads are operated
and for making them more useful serv
ants Of the country as a whole
Prominent Men as Witnesses.
I'm order to obtain the views Of all
interests affected by the operations Of
the transportation lines the committee
has invited prominent shippers, bank
ers. representatives Of commercial or
CARNATIONS. railway executives, econo
mlsts and others to appear before them.
The first to be heard are railroad
commissioners of various states who
began their evidence today. Their
testimony Is directed chiefly to oppos-
ing any enlargement Of the federal
authority over commerce that would
detract from the powers now exercised
10y state bodies. They will he followed
shortly by officials Of railway labor
organizations who are expected to reg
lister their opposition to the increase
Of governmental authority over wages
and conditions of labor.
Chief interest In the hearings cen.
tiers In the proposals that will he put
forward by representatives of the rail.
roads, for Il is reported that they will
advocate an extension of federal au-
thority over rates and securities to the
practical exclusion Of state control Of
these matters. II is understood also that
they will 20 on record in favor of fed
eral Incorporation Of all railroad lines
Legislative Program Of Railroads.
From an authoritative source is oil
tanned the following outline Of the leg
islntiye program which the railroads
will ask the committee to consider IN
its Investigation: They will endeavor
10 demonstrate to the commission that
one Of the principal defects in the pres
emf system Of railroad regulation t.
the lack Of coordination resulting from.
the simultaneous and conflicting regu
latinn 10y the federal government and
by the - states. They will. therefore
ask that autire governmental contio.
OF the rites and practices Of inter tate
carriers. Except purely local mntte.s
be- placed In the hands Of a .eGera.
body so that interstate traffic may b,
regulated without reference 10 state
lines. leaving to the state commission,
Jurisdiction only Over local matters and
local public utilities As n part Of this
ptnn. q compulsory system Of fedora
Incorporation i % be re 0mmeldcd
accompanied 10y federal supervision oI
railroad stock and bond issues.
A reorganization OF the. lntcrstat,
Commerce Commission will he asked
IN order 10 enable the commits Ion lrop
erly to exercise its increased powers
IT is also proposed that the preparation
and prosecution Of cases AGAINST IN
railroads shall he delegated to som.
other agency Of the government possi
bly, the Department Of Justice, 50 tina
the commission may devote It's ener
gies to It's administrative functions
with the commission thus relieve.
Of some of It's present duties and equiv
ped to handle It's business more prompt
". the railroads will urge that the pc
Rod during which the commission ma.
now suspend proposed increases 4
rates be reduced from ten months {
On days. with provision for reparatiol
10 be paid to the shippers II the nd
vance shall be declared unreasonable.
They will also ask that the commi
sion be given the power TO prescrih
minimum as well as maximum rate
40 that In meeting complaints Of dil
elimination the commission may o
der the advance Of a rate which
considers too low.
One OF the most important recoa
mendations for which the railroad
will ask favorable consideration
that the commission be specihcall
authorized 10 take into account
rate regulation the effect Of rate
upon total earnings in the Hight Of e,
penses.
While the Newlands Committee
required. under the resolution crea