The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1916-12-28
PLAN TO RESUME
RAILWAY INQUIRY
AFTER MARCH 4TH
POStpOnGRsHt Forced by Press
Of Congressional Business,
COUNTRY DEMANDS AGTI0

Shippers, Investors and Representa-
tiVes Of All Branches Of Business De-
mand Unifieation of System of Rail-
way ReeuIation-Roads Ask Fewer
Masters.
Washington, Dec. 19.-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 ere
ating the committee, it is required to
submit a report by January Sth next
1t is understood that before that time
sion of time and that the hearings will
be resumed at 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 4th. 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.
It seems doubtful. indeed, If the
country would permit the matter to
be dropped il there were evidence of
desire on the part of Congress to do
so. The nationwide evidences Of III.
terest evoked by the initiation OF the
Newlands inquiry show that the peo
ple of the country-shippers, consum-
ers and investors, as well as railway
men themselves-are alive to the fact
that the railway situation is highly IN
satisfactory and that steps must 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
ganization and 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
ganizatiOns of manufacturers, lumber
men, coal operators, wholesale and re
!
resolutions their desire for the unitica-
tion of the system of railway regula-
ton. The National Industrial Traffic
League, speaking from the viewpoin.
Of shippers using the railways, has
indorsed exclusive federal regulation
providing it is accomplished in such q
way as to give full protection and
prompt adjustment in matters relating
to transportation within the states
| Many Interests Studying Problem.
All these organizations represent pri
marily the shippers of the country, but
they are not the only ones who are
taking a hand in the discussion. The
investors of the nation, through their
own associations and through commit
tees representing the savings banks and
other financial organizations, are pre-
pairing to show the necessity of imprOv
ing railroad credit and protecting the
rights of those whose money is invest
ed In railway securities. Finally the
railroads themselves, being vitality con
cerned in the improvement of existing
, conditions, are planning to submit theil
views through their executives, Oper
{ ating officials and traffic experts anC
to assert their willingness to accept far
reaching federal regulation along line'
that will enable them to attract capita
and to provide the facilities needed TO
the prompt and efficient handling o
the country's transportation business.
Main Trouble Is Too Many Masters.
Not all of these interests are in &C
cord as to the remedies that should b
adopted. There seems to be a genera
agreement, however, that many of tn
S difficulties which confront the railroad
and which make it impossible for ther
T to meet the requirements of the Ms
TONS commerce promptly and satisfat
: torily arise from the haphaZard an
" often conflicting measures of regulatiO
that have been adopted from time
time by the federal government and til
forty-eight states and that what
v needed is a well ordered, systemati
scheme of federal regulation that sha
cover the whole country and make
N possible for the railroads to provide th
d extensions and improved facilities {
badly needed, while at the same tim