The sun., 1916-11-21

session OF the hearing by the Joint COM
mittee on the railroad question was the
refusal OF the commission to accede to
the request OF the railroads to be heard
after the representatives Of the shippers
and other interests invited to make sus-
gestions.
This request. made through A. p.
Thorn. acting for the railroad executives.
was turned down at an executive session
held In the afternoon. The railroads.
therefore. must present their views first.
although II was contended that this
would be virtually putting them In the
position Of complainants. The committee
decided to begin the taking Of testimony
Thursday. The railroad presidents Will
be the first called to testify.
When the hearing opened at 10 o'clock
to-day Mr.. Thorn. general counsel for
the Southern Railway. insisted that the
railroad interests did not want to APP
pear as special interests seeking to put
through n legislative programme. but
wished to have whatever suggestions
they submitted considered as being
prompted solely by the public welfare.
..Opprobrium" Issue QaasheA.
lie intimated the railroads would pre-
fer to have the economists and special
uutl aItb z 1919 ~, '''
der that the railroads might answer their
suggestions from the abundance Of their
experience In ra~ilroading. Mr.. Thorn
told the committee he was aware a GER
tain '~'opprobrium" attached to the sug-
gestIons by railroads Of legislation az
fectinK their own interests. Vice-Chair-
man Adamson replied that Mr.. Thorn was
wrong.
Most Of US believe that nc 'oppro-
brium' attaches to the profession OF coun-
sci for railroads n believe IL to he hon
cradle. Some Of us wish We had such a
lob with the salary that goes with it,"
commented Judge Adamson.
In the list OF those asking to be heard
were representatives Of every shade Of
thought. from the proponents of Govern
ment ownership TO those who believed
that such a policy would be subversiNe or
the best interests Of the public.
The railway executives Who. backed
by the Chamber Of Commerce Of the
United states and other commercial
bodies. believe that the liberalization OF
railway control Is necessary to put the
railroad interests OF the country or a
sSfe basis. were present through their
representatives. while their proposal was
met at the outset by the state Railway
Commissioners who. In national conven-
ton In Washington n week ago. clearly
indicated an intention TO night the fed
eralixation plan.
Among those who asked to be heNd
were the following
Former Senator Joseph l.. Bristow or
Kansas, representing the committee spe-
cially appointed by the National Assoc
citation of State Railway Commission
ers special representatives Of the Texas
commission. j. z. Love Of the ahoma
,p,,,t ~ io sint Anana + DafhQ NAV of the
Boston Chamber OF Commerce. +. Il. DE
Berard. Merchants Association OF New
York George Bartel. Philadelphia
Bourse George Il. Rlx. Lawrence.
Mass. W. r. Graceton, Boston Ark
wright Club OF New York |" c. Boyle.
Kansas City q. VI. Mcclellan. Seattle
Philip Cooley. Philadelphia Chamber of
Commerce s. II. Cowen Of Texas. rep
r~esentlng the National Livestock Assoc
citation.
Newlands Com mittee Meets.
The following members OF the joint
committee. in addition to Chairman
Newlands, were present: Senators cum
Minis. Brandegee. Robinson and Under.
wood and vice-Chairman Adamson. and
Representatives Sims. Esch and Hamii-
ton. Representative Cullop. the NTH
member from the House. was absent.
On assembling Chairman Newlands
Outlined the plan for the investigation
In "A formal statement. In which he said
the committees inquiry will relate "a
every phase Of the transportation ques-
ton. the rail carriers. the river carriers
and the ocean carriers. n the perfec'
ton Of q harmonious system OF trans.
portation embracing rail. river and ocean
| carriers that will meet the demands OF
Interstate as we'll as foreign commerce,
and 4, will also be applied to telegraph
and telephone lines. express companies
and other public utilities.
1T will embrace not only the subject
Of government control and regulation ~
these utilities but also the wisdom and
the feasibility OF government ownership
and the comparative worth and efficiency
OF government regulation and control a.
compared with government ownership
and operation
Government Ownership Nearf
Referring to Government ownership
Senator New.ands said
1t is n question that must be faced
Other nations far advanced IN civiliZa'
ton have adopted the system Recently
under the stress OF war almost all Euro
pesn Governments have taken over the
railways. II w. pursue the exercise ana
he study Of Government iegula ,iot'
wisely. persistently and ensrgetically. We
may create such a system OF regulation
az Will meet every requirement. both In
time of pence and OF war. But II seems
to be a wise thing for the Government OF
he United States to ascertain now the
experiences OF the ountri les that have
adopted Government ownership and OPP
Grafton OF railways.
'Ip fhig connection will puppa the ullns.