Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1916-12-08
DEMANDS
FEDERAL CONTROL
OF THE RAILROADS
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 lncorpo-
ration Favored.
Washington, Dec. 4.-That the inter
ests of national defense require that
control of railway lines should rest
with the federal government and 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.
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-
uent imposition of burdens by unwise
| rpGuiuIlOil, we VIII hldhC hdtlOh0i "a
cheney impossible"
States, Rights Would Not Suffer.
= Mr.. Thorn cited many instances in
which shippers in one state were In
iuriously affected by selfish regula-
! lions imposed on the railroads by
n%eighboring states. He pointed out
that federal regulation would be no in
g IT, ,s-l.4, Af fho CfofoS hlIt
= 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.
Z 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:
i. The entire power and duty of reg.
! ulation should be in the hands of the
national government, except as to mat
Il tiers so essentially. local and incidental
= that they cannot be used to Interfere
with the efficiency of the service or the
just rights of the carriers.
A 2. AS one of the means of accom-
plishing this, a system of compulsory
~ federal incorporation should be adopt
l. ed, into which should be brought all
e railroad corporations engaged in inter-
state or foreign commerce.
~ g. The Interstate Commerce Commits
lg sion under existing laws has too much
to do and is charged with conflicting
functions, including the investigation,
al prosecution and decision OF cases. The
latter duties should be placed in the
hands of a new body which might be
ID called the Federal Railroad Commits.
le sion. Regional Commissions should
~ be established in different parts of
the country to assist the Interstate
w Commerce Commission by handling 10,
IN cal cases.
n 4 me power u Tue Somnaissiol
should be extended to enable 1t to pre-
scribe minimum rates and not merely
ar maximum rates as at present. This
would increase their power to prevent
Je unjust determinations.
I'd Justice to Public and Roads.
be s. 1t should be made the duty of the
Interstate Commerce Commission, ii
HM the SASENlSS VI It's IOWOio W Ia iC0
5r. sonabie rates, to so adjust these rates
We that they shall be just at once to ths
u public and to the carriers. To this enc
the Commission, in determining rates
en- should consider the necessity of main
no tanning efficient transportation and ex
tensions of facilities, the relation o
u expenses to rates and the rights O
/. shippers. stockholders and creditors o
the roads.
ly 6. The Interstate Commerce Commits
of sion should be invested with the pow
er to fix the rates for carrying mails.
: z. The federal government shout,
3rS have exclusive power to supervise th
issue of stocks and bonds by ~railroa,
ii carriers engaged in interstate and fol-
iAi eign commerce.
ug s. The law, should recognize the es
sential difference between things whic
restrain trade in the case of ordinar
lo- mercantile concerns and those whic
4 a restrain trade in the case of commo
an carriers. The question of competitio
IS not the only fair criterion.
0. The law should expressly provid
for the meeting and agreement of tral
y 6c or other officers of railroads in n
les, spect of rates or practices. Thi
he should, however, be ~safeguarded b
requiring the agreements to be file
" with the Interstate Commerce Commii
his sion and to be subject to be d~isappro,
SEES ed BY it.
my legal proposition" Mr.. Tho
ny said, "s that the Constitution as
lily now is gives full authority to Congress
rts to regulate the instrumentalities of Ii
t~erstate commerce in all their part
- If the power of regulation is to reac
Ter the public requirements, it must be G
The extensive with the instrumentalities
commerce."
Mr.. Thorn explained that the roat
the are not asking either of the Commit,
.ers or of Congress any increase In rev