The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1916-12-19
SAFETY DEMANDS
FEDERAL CONTROL
ONLY WAY TO MEET EMERGEN-
CIES OF NATION, SAYS
A.. p. THOM
Principles Which Railways Hold
Should Govern Regulatory System in
Interest of Public Roads

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 nation if
we are to deal successfully with our
national emergencies" said Mr.. Thorn.
land we must appreciate that efficient
transportat ton is an essential condition
of national efficiency. II we are to
halt and weaken our transportation
systems by state lines, by the perma-
nent imposition Of burdens by unwise
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
iuriously affected by selfish regula-
lions imposed on the railroads by
that federal regulation would be no in
vasion Of the rights of the states bat
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
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
tiers so essentially local and incidental
that they cannot be used to interfere
with the efficiency of the service or tle
just rights Of the carriers.
2 AS one of the means of accom-
plishing this. a system of compulsory
federal incorporation should be adopt
ed, into which should be brought ali
corporations engaged in inter
state or foreign commerce.
3. The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion under existing laws has too much
to do and IS charged with conflicting
functions. including the investigation.
and decision of cases. The
latter duties should be placed in the
hands of new body which might be
called the Federal Railroad Commits
sion. Regional Commissions should
be established in different parts of
The country to assist the Interstate
Commerce Commission by handling To-
,al 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
must determinations.
Justice to Public and Roads.
s. 1t should he made the duty of the
Interstate Commerce Commission, IL
he exercise of its powers to fix rea-
;onable rates, to so adjust these rates
hat they shall he just at once to the
public and to the carriers. TO this end
he Commission, in determining rates,
should consider the necessity of main
aiming efficient transportation and ex-
ensions of facilities. the relation OF
expenses to rates and the rights of
clippers, stockholders and creditors OF
ho roads