The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1916-12-22
PLAN TO RESUME
RAILWAY INQUIRY
after MARCH Attn
PostpQnement Forced by Press
Of Congressional Business.
COUNTRY DEMANDS ACTION

Shippers, Investors and Representa-
tives of All Branches of Business De-
nnand Unification of System OF Kali
way ResuIation-Rcads Ask Fewer
Masters.
Washington, Dec. 1S.-The Congress
sional Joint Committee on Interstate
Commerce, which has been conducting
the inquiry into government regulation /
and control of transportation. last
week decided to suspend its hearings
ON the subject and adjourned, subject |
TO the cali OF the chairman, because OF |
the pressure of other work before Con
gress. According to the resolution ere
ating the committee. it is required TO |
submit report by January Sth next
1t is understood that before that time
the committee will ask for an extern
sion of time and that the hearings VIII
be resumed at later date, when some
of those who already have appeared
before the committee will be question
ed further and a great many others
will be heard. 1t is probable, howeV-
or. that the hearings will not be resum-
ed until after adjournment OF Congress
on March 4th. In addition TO regular
routine business the commerce com
mittees of the two houses are charged
with the important duty OF preparing
and presenting the legislation ASKED
FOR by President Wilson to make i'm
nossible a railroad strike without pre-
vious investigation. This will leave
little or no time for the consideration
of the general questions OF railway
regulation.
Country Wants Something Done.
Members of Congress and others
who are interested in the inquiry I'M
dertaken by the Newlands Commute
insist that there is no intention ol
abandoning it.
II seems doubtful, indeed, IL the
country would permit the matter TO
be dropped if there were evidence Oh
4 desire on the part of Congress TO 90
40 The nation wide evidences OF IN
terest evoked by the initiation of the
Newlands inquiry show that the peo-
pie of the country-shippers cohsuhl-
ers and investors, as well as railway
: men therSelveS-are alive TO the TACT
that the railway situation is highly I'M
satisfactory and that steps must pe
taken without unnecessary delay to
, make il possible for the railroads TO
meet the growing needs of the nation
From reports received here Ii seems
as though almost every commercial or
ganiZation and business interest In TIE
: country were engaged in studying th'
n railroad question. The ChamDer o.
q Commerce OF the United States mas
@ been conducting an elaborate inquiry
:, into various phases of the subject TO
many months past. Many local ahC
state commercial bodies in every par
j., Of the country have committees en-
gagged in study OF the problem an'
have Indicated a desire 10 come her
and present their views. National or
CARNATIONS of manufacturers, lumber
men, coal operators, wholesale and re
tail dealers, have expressed throug
resolutions their desire for the unifica
ton Of the system of railway regula
ton The National Industrial Trafl
League, speaking from the vleWp0lr
:, of shippers using the railways ha
= Endorsed exclusive fedora. regulatlo
] providing it is accomplished i'll such
Ie way as TO give full protection an
prompt adjustment i'll matters relatin
TO TRANSPORTATION within the states.
n Many Interests Studying Problem.
All these organizations represent pr
marily the shippers Of the country, bI
- they are not the only ones who al
taking a hand in the discussion. III
: investors of the nation. through the
own associations and through COMM
tees representing the savings banks an
v, other financial organizations. are pr
pairing To show the necessity of impro
It ing railroad credit and protecting Il
n rights of those whose money Is inVes
s ed in railway securities. Finally Il
nd railroads themselves. being vitality co
cerned I'm the Improvement OF eXiStiI
conditions. are planning 10 submit the
III views through their executives. 0pe
Ill ating officials and traffic experts al
" 10 assert their willingness To accept IA
reaching federal regulation along lin
. that will euable them 10 attract capt.
ana TO provide the facilities needed T
Oh the prompt and efficient handling
-, the country's transportation business
Main Trouble Is Too many Masteri
n Not oil of these interests are in &
cord as 10 the remedies that should
adopted. There seems TO be a gener
w agreement. however that many of I
difficulties which confront the railroa
Ell and which make IL impossible for the
10 meet the requirements OF the !
tons commerce promptly AMI satisf
torIly arise from the haphazard a
often conflicting measures OF regulati
that have been adopted from time
ro time by the federal government and {
UU fortv-eight states and that what
NODDED Is n well ordered. systema
. scheme OF federal regulation that 81
cover the whole country and make
nossible for the railroads u p.oyide
iextensions and IL proye1 facilities
'e"- badly needed. VIII al the same Il
rant protecting fully 80 nuhitc interests
BIER