The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-12-14
SAFETY DEMANDS
FEDERAL CONTROL
OF THE RAILROADS
Only Way to Meet Emergencies
Of Nation, Says A. P, Thom,
STATES RIGHTS PRESERVED

ests of Public and the Roads-Com-
pu'sory System of Federal Incorpo-
ration Favored.
Washington. Dec. 4.-That the inter
ests of national defense require that
contro! of railway lines should rest
with the federal government aud not
with the states was the claim ad-
vanced by Alfred P Thorn, counsel
to the Railway Executives Advisory
Committee, in concluding his prelim-
mary statement of the case for the
railways before the Newlands Joint
Committee on Interstate Commerce.
"We must be efficient as a nation II
We are to deal successfully with our
national emergencies" said Mr.. Thorn.
land we must appreciate that efficient
transportation is an essential condition
If national efficiency. If we are to
halt and weaken our transportation
systems by state lines, by the perma
nent imposition of burdens by unwise
regulation, we will make national etti-
cheney impossible"
States Rights Would Not Suffer.
Mr.. Thorn cited many instances in
which shippers in one state were In
iurious!y affected by selfish regnIa-
tions imposed on the railroads by
ncighboring states. He pointed out
that federal regulation would he 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 Advocate.
The principles which the railroads
believe should he Incorporated In any
just system Of regulation were sum
married. by Mr.. Thom as follows:
| l. The etitirc power and duty of reg
ulatioh should DE in the hands Of the
| national 'sovrrnncnt, except as to mat
| ters 50 essentially local and incidental
that they cannot he used to interfere
with the efficiency Of the service Or tie
| just rights of the carriers.
| 2 AS one of the means of accOin-
| pliShinG this, system of compulsory
federal incorporation should he adopt
cd, into which should be brought all
railroad corporations engaged in inter
state or foreign commerce.
8. The Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion under existing laws has too much
to do and is charged with conflicting
functions, including the investigation.
prosecution and decision of cases. The
latter duties should be placed in the
hands of new body which might be
called the Federal Railroad Commits
sion. Regional Commissions should
be established in different parts of
the country to assist the Interstate
Commerce Commission by handling To-
ral eases
t. The power of the Commission
should he extended to enable 1t to pre-
scribe minimum rates and not merely
would increase their power to prevent
unjust Determinations.
Justice to Public and Reads.
g. 1t should be made the duty of the
Interstate Commerce Commission, III
the exercise of its powers to fix rea.
sonable rates, to so adjust tEese 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 transportation and ex.
tensions Of facilities, the relation OF
expenses to rates and the rights OF
shippers, stockholders and creditors OF
the roads.
G. The Interstate Commerce Commis
sion should be invested with the pow
er to fix the rates for carrying mails.
T. The federal government should
have exclusive power to supervise tbt
issue of stocks ard bonds by railroad
carriers engaged in interstate and for
eign commerce.
s. The law should recognize the es
sential difference between things whicl
restrain trade in the case Of ordinar,
mercantile concerns and those whicl
restrain trade in the case OF common
carriers The question CT competition
is not the only fair criterion.
8. The law should expressly prcvid
for the meeting and agreement Of traf
fic or other officers of railroads III re
spect of rates or practices. TIL
should, however, be safeguarled b.
requiring the agreements to he file
with the Interstate Commerce Commis
sion and to be subject tG be disapprCy
ell by it.
My legal proposition" Mr.. ThaI
said, sis that the Constitution as
now is gives full authority to Congres
to regulate the instrume,italities OF II
tefstate commerce in ail their part
If the power of regulation Is to rcac
tie public requirements. 1t must he c.
extensive with the instrumentaIities
commerce"
Mr.. Thorn explained that the roat
, ere not asking either of the Committt
or of Congress any increase in rev
J nues, but that they are merely askiI
the perfection Of system which will
5 responsible to any need that may aris
Gat the Banner free one year by 6
our;ne, no three now Maid snhscriptioy