The Columbus courier. [volume] (Columbus, Luna County, N.M.) 1911-1920, 1916-12-08
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEE BEGINS
RAILWAY INQUIRY
Proposed by President u.Bst-
tor Condition Of Carriers,
NAY CHANGE PRESENT SYSTEM
o#eials Of Roads Prepared TO Advocate
Federal incorporation, Supervision OF
Securities and Extension Of Authority
Of Interstate Commerce Commission.

Washington. Nov. 2O-ICn members
Of Congress. five senators and hVe
members " the House " Representa-
tivcs. began here today an inquiry Into
the subject " public control and su
pcrylslon NJ railroads that may lead to
the rcyorutionizlng Of the whole scheme
" governmental regulation Of the coun
try's transportation lines. incidentally
the committee Is to look into the ques
ton " government ownership OF rail.
ways. telephone and telegraph Ines
aud express companies.
The members OF the committee
which will conduct this Important In
%vastigation are Senator Newlands OF
Nevada. chairman: Senators Robinson
Of Arkansas. Underwood Of Alabama,
Cummins NJ Iowa and Brandcgcc ~
Connecticut. and Representatives Adj
amson W Georgia. Sims Of Tennessee,
Cullop NJ Indiana. Esch ~ Wisconsin
am Hamilton ~ Michigan. The In
quiry was recommended by President
Wilson tn his message 20 Congress I'm
December NJ last year. He described
as It's purpose to determine what could
be done for lettering the conditions
under which the railroads are operated
and for making them more useful serv-
ants NJ the country as a whole
Prominent Men az Witnesses.
In order 10 obtain the views Of all
interests affected by the operations of
the transportation lines the committee
has invited prominent shippers, bank
ers. representatives OF commercial or.
CARNATIONS. railway executives, econo.
mlsts and others to appear before them
The FIRST to he heard are railroad
commissioners Of various states who
began their evidence today. Their
testimony Il directed chiefly to oppos.
ing II enlargement Of the federal
authority over that would
dctract from the powers now exercised
by state bodies. They will be followed
shortly Ivy officials OF railway labor
organizations who are expected to reg
lister their opposition to the increase
of governmental authority over wages
and conditions Of labor.
Chief interest I'm the hearings cen
ters In the proposals that will be put
forward by representatives Of the rail.
roads. for 1t is reported that they will
advocate an extension NJ federal au
thority over rates and securities to the
practical exclusion NJ state control OF
these matters. II Is understood also that
they will 20 on record In favor Of fed
cral incorporation OF all railroad lines
Legislative Program Of Railroads.
From an authoritative source is oh
tanned the following outline Cg the leg.
%islative TEogram which the railroads
viii ask the committee To consider In
H. Investigation: They will endeavOr
to demonstrate 10 the commission that
one II the principal defects In the pres.
cRt system ~ railroad regulation Is
the ,ark NJ coordination resulting from
the simultaneous and conflicting rcgu.
lation by the federal government and
by the - states. They will, therefore,
ask that entire governmental control
II the rates and practices Il interstate
carriers, except purely local matters.
be placed in the hands Of a federal
body Sn that Interstate trafic may he
rCgulated without reference 10 state
lines, leaving to the state commissions
Jurisdiction only over local matters and
local public utilities As a part Of this
plan. a compulsory system of federal
incorporation Il Ia be recommended.
accompanied by federal supervision Of
railroad stock and bond issues.
A reorganization Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission will be- asked
In order to enable the commission prom
erly 10 exercise It's Increased lowers.
II Is also proposed that the preparation
and prosecution Of cases against the
railroads shall he delegated 10 some
other agency NJ tho government. posi-
bly, the Department Of Justice. ~ tha4
the commission may devote IT, cncr
giles to us administrative functions.
With the commission thus relieved
n some Of lts present duties and ouuip
ped to handle It's business more PROMPT
ly. the railroads will urge that the ne
Rod during which the commission max
now suspend proposed increases In
rates be- reduced from ten months N
w days. with provision for reparation
- W. l'HN W. lHf HlilIfIN " the al
nnce shall be declared unreasonable.
They will also ask that the commits
Iion be given the power to prescribe
minimum As weA as maximum rgres
40 that In meeting complaints N dis
elimination the cOmmlsslon NAV order
the advance Of a rate which It cousld
ers too low.
One Of the most important recon
b mendations for which the railroads
% win ask favorable consideration IA
, tnat the commission be s~f,clAegl,y
authorized 10 take into account I'm
rate regulation the effect OF rates
upon total earnings In the light OF eE.
penses.
While the Newlands Committee "a
required, under the resolution Great
Ing IL, TO submit a report by Januar,
> 2 next, II Is not anticipated that the
Committee win have come nvwbsr