The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1916-12-28
MERCHANTS ASSOCIATIONS
PROGRAMME FOR RAIL
ROAD LEGISLA-
TON.

4
gress will hold hearings in Washing
ton upon the following matters:
1. The subject of Government
control and regulation of interstate
and foreign transportation.
2. The efficiency of the existing
system in protecting the rights of
shippers and carriers and in promo
ting the public interest.
8. The Incorporation or control
of the incorporation of carriers.
A. The subject of government
Ownership Of all public utilities,
such as telegraph, wireless, cable.
telephone, express companies, and
railroads engaged in interstate and
foreign commerce. and report as to
the wisdom or feasibility Of Govern
ment ownership of such utilities.
s. The comparative worth and
efficiency OF government regulation
and control as compared with gov
eminent ownership and operation.
6. Proposed changes in the or
ganization Of the Interstate Com
merce Commission.
Z. Proposed changes in the Act
to Regulate Commerce.
The Merchants Association has
adopted programme which will be
presented to Congress or to the Com
mittee. This programme is compre-
hensive and definite.
Its first constructive feature Is a
plan to prevent the interruption of
railroad operation by strikes. This
plan is proposed by Mr.. Henry r.
Towne and, briefly, 1t provides for
the enforcement of contractual re-
lation between employers and en-
ployees on public utilities 1t is sug-
gested not so much as a final solu-
ton of this important question. al
though The Merchants Association
hopes that 1t may prove to be such
a solution, as a means of bringing
the matter forward for discussion.
The Association has asked the Cham
Der OF Commerce of the United
States to submit the question to it's
constituent members in the form of
referendum in order that the senti-
ment OF the business men of the
country may be ascertained. It has
also asked other organizations to
Join in requesting such a referen
dum and the responses thus far re-
ceiyed show strong sentiment in
favor of the test.
The Association has declared I'm
favor of giving the Federal Govern
ment, through the Interstate Com.
merce Commission, control over rail
road rates and regulations within
state limits. This would do away
with n large number of yeyatjous
matters arising from the conflict be-
tween Federal and State authority
over lines of transportation.
The Association is in favor of the
Federal incorporation of railroads.
The Association is in favor of Fed
eral supervision of the issue of Sc
curities by Interstate carriers.
The Association is in favor of the
enlargement of the Interstate Com
merce Commission so as to enable
1t promptly and adequately to per-
form its functions.
The Association strongly opposes
government ownership of public utl-
lities.
Recent experience has shown the
need for laws dealing adequately
and Complementary with public uti-
lities and especially with lines of
transportation. The health, comfort
and prosperity of people depend alb
solutely upon the continuous opera
ton OF the railroads. A tie-up of the
lines of transportation would bring
disaster upon the entire country. In
view of the important status of the
railroads in their relation to the
country's economic welfare, senti-
ment is growing among business
men for giving the Federal Govern
ment a measure of control that will
ensure immunity from tie-ups.
The Merchants Association will
leave nothing undone to push it's
programme to adoption. It's mem
bers feel that they can perform no
greater service to the country and
to the needs OF commerce than by
forcing the adoption of a plan which
VIII guarantee the uninterrupted
operation OF the railroads.