The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-12-14
SAFETY DEMANDS
FEDERAL CONTROL
Of the RAILROADS
Only Way 10 Meet Emergencies
Of Nation. Says 4 ?. Thorn
STATES RIGHTS PRESERVED

Govern Regulatory System In Inter.
este Of Public and the aesds-com.
pu'sory System Of Federal 'neoeps.
ration Favored.
Washington. Dec. l.-That the inter
ests Of national defense require that
control Of railway lines should rest
with the federal government and not
with the states was the claim id.
vsnced BY Alfred r. Thorn. counsel
10 the Railway Executives' Advisory
Committee. In concluding his prelim-
mary statement Of the case for the
railways before the Newiapds Joint
Committee on Interstate Commerce.
I'VE must be eficient ~ q nation n
We ere to deal successfully with our
national emergencies" said Mr.. Thorn.
and we must appreciate that efficient
transportation IL an essential condition
Of national efficiency. II we are to
halt and weaken our transportatio
systems by state lines. by the perma-
nent imposition Of burdens by unwise
cheney impossible"
States Rights Would Not Suffer.
Mr. Thorn cited many instan In
which shippers in one state were In.
juriously affected BY selfish reguIa.
lions imposed on the railroads BY
neighboring states. He pointed out
that federal regulation would be no In.
vasion Of the rights Of the states but
would be the means Of preserving the
rights which they acquired when they
entered the Union. one OF which was
the right to the free movement Of their
products across state boundaries.
What the Railroads Adveeata
The principles which the railroads
believe should he Incorporated In any
just system OF regulation were sum.
married by Mr.. Thorn a. follows:
I. The entire power and duty OF REG.
ulation should be In the hands Of the
national government except as to mat
tiers 20 essentially local and Incidental
that they cannot be used to interfere
with the efficiency Of the service or the
Just rights Of the carriers.
2 Al one Of the means Of accom-
plishing this. Q system Of compulsory
federal Incorporation should b adopt
ed. into which should be brought all
railroad corporations engaged In inter.
state or foreign commerce.
g. The Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion under existing laws has too much
to do and 70 charged with conflicting
functions. including the Investigation.
prosecution and decision Of cases. The
latter duties should be placed in the
hands Of Q new body which might b
called the Federal Railroad Commis-
sion. Regional Commissions should
be established In different parts Of
' the country to assist the Interstate
Commerce Commission BY handling 10
cal cases.
4. The power Of the Commission
should be extended to enable II to pre-
scribe minimum rates and not merely
ma ximum rates a. at present This
would increase their power to prevent
unjust DETERMINATIONS.
Justice &c Public and Roads.
g. II should be made the duty OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission, In
the exercise OF its powers to nx rea.
sonable rates. to 20 adjust these rates
that they shall be just at once to the
public and to the carriers. To this end
the Commission. In determining rates.
should consider the necessity of main.
tanning efficient transports ton and ex-
tensions OF facilities. the relation Of
expenses to rates and the rights Of
shippers. stockholders and creditors Of
the roads,
! @ The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion should be invested with the pow.
er TO AZ the rates for carrying mails.
Z. The federal government should
have exclusive power to supervise the
issue Of stocks and bonds by railroad
carriers engaged In interstate and for.
eign commerce.
& The law should recognize the e.
sential difference between things which
restrain trade In the case OF ordinary
mercantile concerns and those which
restrain trade In the case OF common
carriers The question Of competition
is not the only fair criterion.
O. The law should expressly provide
for the meeting and agreement OF traf.
nc or other officers Of railroads In re-
spect OF rates or practices. This
should. however. be safeguarded by
requiring the agreements TO be died
with the Interstate Commerce Commits.
sion and to be subject to be disapprov.
ed by II
MY legal proposition" Mr. Thom
said. '.is that the Constitution as II
now Is gives full authority TO Congress
TO regulate the instrumentalities OF In.
terstate commerce In all their parts
II the power OF regulation Is to reach
the public requirements. Il must be CO
extensive with the instrumentalities OF
commerce"
Mr.. Thom explained that the roads
are not asking either Of the COMMITTEES