Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1916-12-12
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEE BEGINS
L., RAILWAY INQUIRY
Proposed by President to Bet
Ter Condition Of Carriers.
MAY CHANGE PRESENT SYSTEM

Federal Incorporation, Supervision OF
Securities and Extension Of Authority
of Interstate Commerce Commission.
Washington, Nov. 20.-Ten members
OF Congress, five Senators and five
members OF the House OF Representa-
tives. began here today an inquiry into
the subject Of public control and SUI
pervision OF railroads that may lead to
the revoutionizing of the whole scheme
OF governmental regulation of the coun-
try's transportation lines. incidentally
the committee is to look into the ques-
ways, telephone and telegraph lines
and express companies.
The members OF the committee
which will conduct this important in
vestigation are Senator Newlands OF
Nevada, chairman; Senators Robinson
of Arkansas, Underwood Of Alabama,
Cummins of Iowa and Brandegee OF
Connecticut, and Representatives Ad-
amson of Georgia, Sims of Tennessee,
Cullop OF Indiana, Esch Of Wisconsin
and Hamilton of Michigan. The In
quiry was recommended by President
Wilson in his message to Congress In
December of last year. He described
as Its 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 of the country as whole"
Prominent Men az Witnesses.
In order to 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-
mists and others to appear before them
The first to be heard are railroad
commissioners of various states who
began their evidence today. Their
testimony is directed chiefly to oppos-
ing any enlargement of the federal
authority over commerce that would
detract from the powers now exercised
by state bodies. They will be followed
shortly by 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 in the hearings cen
ters in the proposals that will be put
| forward by representatives of the rail-
roads, for It is reported that they wiz
| advocate an extension Of federal au-
! thority over rates and securities to the
practical exclusion of state control Of
these matters. 1t is understood also that
| they will go on record in favor of fed
eral Incorporation of all railroad lines.
Legislative Program of Railroads.
From an authoritative source Is OBJ
tanned the following outline Of the leg
islative program which the railroads
will ask the committee to consider in
its investigations They will endeavor
to demonstrate to the commission that
one of the principal defects in the pres
ent system of railroad regulation Is
the lack of coordination resulting from
the simultaneous and conflicting regu
lation by the federal government and
by the 40 states. They will, therefore
ask that entire governmental contro
Of the rates and practices of interstate
carriers, except purely local matters
be placed In the hands of a fedora
body so that interstate traffic may b'
regulated without reference to STATE
lines, leaving to the state commission
Jurisdiction only over local matters ant
local public utilities. AS part of thi
plan, a compulsory system OF fedora
Incorporation Is to be recommended
accompanied by federal supervision o
railroad stock and bond issues.
A reorganization of the Interstat
Commerce Commission will be asked
In order to enable the commission PROF
5 erly to exercise its increased powers
+ 1t is also proposed that the preparatio
and prosecution of cases against tn
railroads shall be delegated to som
!. other agency OF the government, poss
bly, the Department of Justice, so ths
the commission may devote its enc
o gies to it's administrative functions.
:. With the commission thus relieve
of some Of its present duties and equil
ped to handle its business more promp
y ly. the railroads will urge that the p
Rod during which the commission ma
c now suspend proposed increases
rates be reduced from ten months
60 days, with provision for reparatic
to be paid to the shippers If the a.
IS vance shall be declared unreasonable
y They will also ask that the comm
sion be given the power to prescri
minimum as well as maximum rat
so that in meeting complaints of d
elimination the commission may {
< der the advance OF a rate which
IN considers too low.
4 One of the most important reco
lie mendations for which the railroa
m will ask favorable consideration
st that the commission be specifica
III authorized TO take into account
n rate regulation the effect of raj
~ upon total earnings in the light Of I
Do penses.
While the Newlands Committee
required, under the resolution ere
90 ing 1t, TO submit report by Janua
- next, 1t is not anticipated that