The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-12-09
TOO MANY BOSSES
Every State Tries to Run the
Railroads, Says Thorn.
Federal Government Alone
Should Have Control of Them.

The opposition of the railways of
the country to the present system of
dual regulation, thru both federal and
state commissions, came to head in
the recent hearing before the congress
sionaI committee on railroad affairs,
in Washington, when Alfred T. Thom,
counsel for the railway executives,
presented the railroads side of the
case before the commission, headed by
Senator Newlands.
1.-THE entire power and duty of regu-
lation should be in the hands of the
national government, except in matters
so essentially local and incidental that
they can not be used to interfere with
the efficiency of the service or the
lust rights of the carriers" said Thorn.
"As one of the means of accomplish
ing this a system of federal incorpora-
ton should be adopted, into which
should be brought all railroad cor
porations engaged in interstate or for
eign commerce. Such a system of
federal incorporation should be COM
pulsory and not elective. 1t should
also preserve to corporations incor-
porating under it, not only all their
contract rights and other assets of all
Sorts but also their existing charter
powers, except as to any feature con-
trary to an act of congress, and should
also confer on them the general pow
ers conferred upon all corporations by
the federal act"
More Power to 1. C. G.
An extension of the powers of the
interstate commerce commission is
urged by the railroads, in matters judi
cial and constructive. However, mas
much as the railroads allege that the
commission is already overburdened
with details, the creation of a federal
railroad commission is urged, which
will take the work of supervision, de-
lection, prosecution and correction, off
the hands of the interstate commerce
commission. The frightening of the
terms and an increase in the salaries
of the members of the interstate COM
merce commission is advocated. and
the latter commission, according to
Thoms plan, would be superior to the
federal railroad commission.
The difficulties which the railroads
face under the present system of two
bosses were urged by Thorn as a
reason for abolishing the system.
The present facilities of the roads
are inadequate, their credit has been
impaired and development has been
retarded, owing to the restrictions
under which they operate, according
to their counselor.
Incompatibility of Rulings.
States discriminate against each
other and the road, thru incompati-
bility of rulings, said Thorn.
The railroads of the United States
will need in the next ten years prop
erly to care for the necessary extern
sions and to pay off maturing debts, a
billion and a half dollars a year, Mr..
Thorn stated.
rs it not fair to ask of a system
which limits revenue but does not
limit expenses, where this money is
to come from? Is it not fair to ask
that IN any constructive measure
which is favored by the congress of
the United States, this essential need
of the people should not be over
looked and that some methods shall
be provided which will reasonably as
sure the input of capital to bring and
to keep these instrumentalities of
CONNIE cree up to the requirements of
public needs?" Mr.. Thorn asked in
CLOSING his address