Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-11-21
Committee Begins
Investigation Into
Railroad Problems
Executives of Greatest Sys-
TENS to Ne,o-
lands Outlines General
Purposes of Inquiry.

WASf!INGTON, November 20 What
is the matter with the railroads and
what kind of legislation Congress
might enact TO better conditions will
be pictured to the joint congressional
committee Investigating transportation
problems. beginning on Thursday, by
the executives OF some OF the greatest
systems in the country.
The Investigating committee held its
first session to-day. heard an opening
statement by its chairman, Senator
Newlands. and received notice of ap-
pcarance from nearly 100 public utility
companies. state railway commissions.
tDnmcrcial and Industrial organizations
and shippers. Few who noted an
pearances seemed willing to opcu, each
wanting the other TO take the lead,
because all said they wanted to avoid
having their plans prejudiced
The commission decided to hear the
railroads first. in the belief that their
executives are better prepared to state
their case without further delay. The
railway executives advisory committees
composed of more than a dozen heads
of important systems. was advised. and
il is expected that most of it's members
is completely told.
WILL HOLD HEARINGS
EACH DAY IN WEEK
The committee decided TO hold hear
ngs each week day from 10 A. NJ to
1880 l. NJ. only. TO give the official re-
porters time to keep the record un
to date for the committee and for wit
nesses. No decision was reached as to
what witnesses will be called when tn.
railroads conclude. Representatives. of
the American Telephone and telegraph
Company, the Western Union telegram
Company and several of the big express
companies were present, and will be
heard before the committee reports
The railroad phase of the investicn-
ton is expected TO take most OF tho
committees time, but, under the resolu.
ton which created it. its Investigations
are 10 extend TO all such public utili-
ties.
In opening the railroad investipa-
tion. senator Francis G.. Ncwlands tho
chairman. explained that the inquiry
would cover a wide field. He said:
II VIII relate 10 every phase of the
transportation question. the rail car
riers, the river carriers and the ocean
carriers. and the perfection of A har-
monious system of transportation en-
bracing rail. river and ocean carriers
that Will meet the demands of inter-
state as we'll as foreign commerce, and
IL Will also be applied to telegraph and
telephone lines. express companies. and
other public utilities.
TO CONSIDER WISDOM
OF GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP
1T will embrace not only the subject
of government control and regulation.
OF these utilities. but also the wisdom
and the feasibility OF government
ownership. and the comparative worth
and efficiency of government rcgula
ton and control as compared with gov
eriiment ownership and operation.
1T will not he possible for US to
come To a speedy conclusion regarding
all questions. but that conclusion viii
be moro quickly arrived AT ii we have
the sympathetic aid Of practical men
who for years have been conversant
with the practical side of transporta-
ton question, of the economists and
publcists. OF railway executives and
workers OF commercial bodies, farm
ers and manufacturers and shippers
generally"
Referring to government ownership
MIR. NewlandS said:
''It is question that must he faced.
Other nations far advanced in civili-
zation have adopted the system
IF we pursue the exercise and the
study of government regulation wise
ly. pcrsisicntly and cncrgeticaliy we
may create such system OF rcguIa-
Both in time Of peace and Of war.
and in cNiscncy or crisis sut IL seems
to be a wise thing for the govern
ment to ascertain now the history OF
the countries that have adopted gov
| crnmcnt ownership and operation %.
railways and to watch the experiences
of the European countries in this
great war in this regard"
.CUARACTERIZES STRIKES
As BAnBAROuS AND brutal.
Strikes as a means OF settling labor
disputes. Senator Newlands charac-
! terzes as 'the most barharic and
brutal of processes" THE question
is he added whether IL nation pre-
tending TO some degree of civilization.
which has eliminated the doctrine OF
force from application to controversies
between man and man, and which fur
niShes judicial tribunals for the set e
ilcmcnt OF those controversies, and
which is nov and has becn for wears
cndcavorinG internationally TO secure
Il system under which the nations of
the earth will create similar tribu-
/ mails for the adjustment Of intcrna :
tional disputes without resort to force
whether "a civilized nation can bc
content to pcrpetuatc the existing
condition Of things
Hours and wages of employees must
he considered carefully, Senator New =
lands declared. because the burdens
which constitute the operating cN-
pcnScs OF these corporations are in
time transferred to the shippers"
Senator Newlands outlined the pro-
pusals to reorGanize the Interstate
Commerce Commission. and To create
Federal agencies which might supplant
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