The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1916-12-15
SAFETY DEMANDS
FEDERAL CONTROL
CT The RAILROADS
Only Way 10 Mast Emergencies
Of Natjon, Says A. ?. Th9m.
STATES RIGHTS PRESERVED
Principles Which Railways Hold shoufs
Govern Regulatory System In lnssr-
ssts Of Public and the Roads-csm-
pulsory System Of Federal lncorpo
ration Favored.


pulsory System Of Federal lncorpo-
ration Favored.
Washington. Dec. 4.-That the inter.
ests of national defense require thai
control Of railway lines should Test
with the federal government ant not
with the states was the claim az
vanced by Alfred r. Thorn. counsel
to the Hallway Executives Advisory
Committee. in concluding his ,reiim
mary statement OF the ease for the
railways before the Ncwlands Joint
Committee on Interstate Commerce.
I'VE must be efficient as a nation II
we are to deal successfully with our
national emergencies" said Mr.. Tiiom.
land we must appreciate that efficient
transportation is an essential condition
of national efficiency. II We ate to
halt and weaken our transportation
systems By state lines. by the parma
ncnt imposition OF burdens by unwiSe
regulation. we will make national ELI.
cheney Impossible"
States Rights Would Not Suffer.
Mr.. Thorn cited many instances in
which shippers In nuc state In
j%pr,ously affected by selfish rec,lia-
tiunS IMPOSED on the railroads by
n~ei"lhorin. states. He pointed ont
that federal regulation would be- no in.
vasion Of tn" rights "f the states bat
.--,tI -. ,t. .... . ,..,n.;... a..
rights which they acquired when they
catered the Iuiur. on. OF which was
the right to the free movement OF their
%proiurt> across state boundaries.
What the Railroads Advocats.
I'll" principles which the railroads
hrlicyv Should tc Incorporated III any
inSt system ~ regulation were sum.
mari2"t hy Mr.. Thorn az follows:
! 1l;c rntirc power and duty vt reg.
~r'atinn xi,onld lac In the hand ~ the
national government. except as to- mat.
icrs >n essentially local and Incidental
that tl,cl cannot he used TO interfere
with the riticieu"r ~ the service or the
lust rights az the carriers.
.. As one Of the means Of accom-
pllsiihg this. a system Of compulsory
federal incorporation <iionll he adopt
ed. ini" which should he brought all
railroad corporations engaged In inter
state or foreign commerce.
Z. The Interstate commerce C"mmis-
sIoi under existing laws has too much
to No and Is charged with conflicting
functions. Including the inve~stigation.
prosecution aud decision Of cases. Tia
latter dmtie. should lie placed Ia the
hands Of n new body which might No
calirh the Federal Railroad Commits
sion. Regional Commissions should
l,c established In different parts Of
the country to assist the Interstate
Commerce Commission by handling To-
cat cases.
T. The power III the Commission
Sl,"uid ie extended tN enable it to pro-,
scribe minimum rates and not merely
maximum rates as At p%reseut. This
would Increase their p"wcr to prevent
unjust DETERMINATIONS.
Justice TO Publis and Roads.
:, II should tie made the duty Vt the
Interstate Commerce Commission. Ia
the exercise of its imwerS ia fix rea-
sonahie rates. (" 50 nd just these rates
that they shalt be Just at once to- the
public and 10 the carriers. 10 this end
H." t'ummi>>i"i,. in determining rates,
should consider the necessity Of main.
tanning efficient transportation and sx-
tensions OF facilities. the relation Of
expenses to rates and the rights Of
shippers. stockholders and creditors Of
the roads.
II. The Interstate oririrrre tominis-
sion should lie Invested with the pow.
er I" tx the rates for carrying mails.
{. The federal government should
have exclusive bower TO supervise the
issue " si"cks and bonds hy railroad
carriers engaged IN interstate and FOR.
ci.i, rommrrce
y. The law shoUid reco.I,ize the e.
scntial difference tmtwrcl things which
restrain trade il, the cas-. Of ordinary
mercantile concerns. anl those which
restrain traLe in the case Of COMMON
"a rricrs The question Of competition
il not the oi,ly fair criterion. "H- Z
~. nv INV >Hbfiln expressly trOvtup
for the meeting and agreement " traf-
tic or other officers " "a ds IN re-
spcct OF rates or practices. This
should, however. be safrgua r,ied by
requiring the agreements Ia he filed
will, the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion and to he subject to he disapurov.
ed by it.
My legal proposition" Nj. Thorn
said, "iS that the Constitution MS II
now is gives full authority to Congress
10 regulate the inStrumcntaiities of in
tersiate commerce in all their parts.
IL the power OF regulation II tn reach
the public requirements. it must I've 90
extensive with the Observation-Disclosures of.
commerce"
Mr., Thorn explained that the roads
are not asking either of the Committee
or Of Congress- any increase In reve-
ausS, bnt that they are merely asking