The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1916-12-09
SAFETY DEMANDS
FEDERAL CONTROL
OF The RAILROAD
Only Way TO Meet Emergencies
Of Nation. Says A. P. Thorn.
STATES RIGHTS PRESERVED

Principles Which Railways Hold Should
Govern Regulatory System In Inter-
ests of Public and the Roads-Com-
pulsory System of Federal Incorpo-
ration Favored.
Washington. Dec. 4.-That the inter
ests of national defense require that
control of railway lines should rest
with the federal government n not
with the states was the claim ad-
vanced by Alfred z. Thorn, counsel
Committee, in concluding his prelim-
mary statement of the case for the
railways before the Newlands Joint
Committee on Interstate Commerce.
I'VE must be efficient as a nation If
we are to deal successfully with our
national emergencies" said Mr.. Thorn,
and we must appreciate that efficient
transportation is an essential condition
of national efficiency. If we are to
halt and weaken our transportation
systems by state lines. by the perma-
len imposition OF burdens by unwtse
regulation, we will make national eff
cheney impossible"
States Rights Would Not Suffer.
Mr.. Thorn cited many instances In
which shippers in one state were In
~juriously affected by selfish regula-
tons imposed on the railroads by
n~eighboring 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 Advocate.
The principles which the railroads
believe should be Incorporated in any
just system of regulation were sum
married. by Mr.. Thorn as follows:
J.. The entire power and duty of reg
ulation should be in the hands of the
national government, except as to mat
ters so essentially local and incidental
Ia IICg ihhioi w hNtb W
with the efficiency of the service OF the
just rights of the carriers.
2. AS one of the means of accom-
plishing this, a system of compulsory
federal incorporation should he adopt
ed, into which should be brought all
railroad corporations engaged In inter
state or foreign mmerce
3. The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion under existing law 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 q new body which might be
called the Federal Railroad Commits
sion. Regional Commissions should
the country to assist the Interstate
Commerce Commission by handling To-
cal cases.
4. The power of the Commission
should be extended TO enable it to pre-
scribe minimum rates and not merely
maximum rates as at present. This
would increase their power to prevent
unjust
Justice to Public and Roads.
5. 1t should be made the duty of the
Interstate Commerce Commission. in
the exercise OF its powers to fix rea
sonable rates. to so 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 transportation and ex
tensions of facilities, the relation of
expenses to rates and the lights OF
shippers. stockholders aud t:ediuofs 81
the roads.
6. The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion should he invested with the pow
er to fix the rates for carrying mails.
Z. The federal government shonld
have exclusive power TO supervise the
issue of stocks and bonds 10y railruaH
carriers engaged In Interstate and H..
eign commerce.
8. The law should recognize the es
sential difference between things which
restrain trade III the case of ordinary
mercantile concerns and those which
81 II IdhG III liz 0det VI toiilIllOll
carriers. The question of competition
is not the only fair criterion.
o. The law should expressly provide
for the meeting and agreement of traf
fc or other officers Of railroads in re
spect of rates or practices. Gh1e
should, however. oe safeguaTded u,
requiring the agreements TO be file
with the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion m to be subject to be disapprov
ed by it.
MY legal proposition Mr.. Thou
said, 'is that the Constitution as II
now is gives full authority to Congress
TO regulate the tnstrumentalities of in
t~erstate commerce in all their fari>
If the power Of regulation Is to reacl
The public requirements. ii must be 90
extensive with the Observation-Disclosures 0