Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1916-12-27

COUNTRY DEMANDS ACTION
Shippers. Investors and Representa-
tives Of All Branches of Business De-
mand Unification of System Of Rail-
way .Reeuiation-Roads Ask Fewer
Masters.
Washington. Dec. 18-The Congress
sional Joint Committee on Interstate
Commerce. which has been conducting
the Inquiry into government regulation
and control of transportation, last
week decided to suspend its hearings
on the subject and adjourned, subject
to the call Of the chairman. because Of
the pressure Of other work before Con
gress. According to the resolution Gre
ating the committee, it is required to
submit a report by January sth next.
It Is understood that before that time
the committee will ask for an extern
sion of time and that the hearings will
be resumed at a later date, when some
of those who already have appeared
before the committee will be question
ed further and a great many others
will be heard. 1t is probable. howev-
er, that the hearings will not be resum-
ed until after adjournment of Congress
on March 18th. In addition to regular
routine business the commerce COM
mittees of the two houses are charged
with the important duty Of preparing
and presenting the legislation asked
for by President Wilson to make i'm
possible a railroad strike without pre-
vious investigation. This will leave
little or no time for the consideration
of the general questions of railway
regulation.
Country Wants Something Done.
Members of Congress and others
who are interested in the inquiry un-
dertaken by the Newlands Committee
insist that there is no intention Of
abandoning it.
1t seems doubtful. indeed. II the
country would permit the matter to
be dropped if there We're evidence of a
desire on the part Of Congress to do
so. The nationwide evidences of in
terest evoked by the initiation of the
Newlands inquiry show that the PEG
pie of the country-shippers. consum-
ers and investors, as we'll as railway
men themselves-are alive to the fact
that the railway situation is highly un-
satisfactory and that steps u be
taken without unnecessary delay to
make it possible for the railroads to
meet the growing needs of the nation.
From reports received here it seems
as though almost every commercial or
g%anization n business interest in the
country were engaged in studying the
railroad question. The Chamber OF
Commerce of the United States has
been conducting an elaborate inquiry
into various phases of the subject for
many months past. Many local and
state commercial bodies in. every part
Of the country have committees en-
gagged in study of the problem and
have indicated a desire to come here
and present their views. National or
! CARNATIONS Of manufacturers, lumber
men, coal operators, wholesale and re
tail dealers, have expressed through
resolutions their desire for the unifca
ton Of the system Of railway regula
ton. The National Industrial Traffic
League, speaking from the viewpoin
Of shippers using the railways. ha!
Endorsed exclusive federal regulation
providing it is accomplished in such .
way as to give full protection ant
prompt adjustment In matters relating
to transportation within the states.
Many Interests Studying Problem.
All these organizations represent pri
marty theNshippers OF the country. bu
they ars*not the only ones who art
taking a hand in the discussion. TIL.
investors Of the nation, through thei
own associations and through commit
!, tees representing the savings banks ane
other financial organizations, ere pre-
pairing to show the necessity Of improv
ing railroad credit and protecting tn,
: rights of those whose money is invest
ed in railway securities. Finally ths
railroads themselves, being vitally con
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