Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1916-12-16
SAFETY 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
ssts of Public and the Rosds-Com-
pulsory System Of Federal Ineorpo-
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 F. Thorn, counsel
TO the Railway Executives Advisory
Committee, in concluding his prelim-
mary statement OF the case fer the
railways before the Newlands 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.. Thorn.
"and we must appreciate that efficient
transportation IL 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 burdenG by unwise
! regulation, we will make national eth.
cheney impossible.
States Rights Would Not Suffer.
Mr. Thorn cited many instances in
which shippers in one state were In
juriously affected 10y selfish regula
tions imposed on the railroads by
/ neighboring states He pointed out
| that federal regulation would be no in
| vasion OF the rights OF the states but
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.
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:
l. The entire power and duty OF reg
! ulation should he In the hands Of the
national government, except as TO mat
| ters 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.
2 AS one OF the means OF accom-
/ piishing this. system OF compulsory
! federal incorporation should be adopt
I "a f,f f.h ghAttlI no hrntuhf oI
railroad 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,
prosecution and decision OF cases The
latter duties should be placed In the
hands Of a 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-
cal cases
4. The power OF the Commission
should he extended TO enable II to pre-
scribe minimum rates and not merely
maximum rates as at present This
would increase their power TO prevent
unjust Determinations.
Justice to Public and Roads.
5. Ii should be made the duty OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission in
the exercise OF Its powers to fix rea-
a ROT,
that they shall be Just at once TO the
public and to the carriers. To this end
the Commission. in determining rates
should consider the necessity OF main
tanning efficient transportation and ex
tensions OF facilities. the relation OF
expenses to rates and the rights OF
shippers. stockholders and creditors OF
the roads.
g. The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion should be invested with the pow
er to fix the rates for carrying mails.
Z The federal government should
have exclusive power to supervise the
issue of stocks aud bonds by railroad
carriers engaged in interstate and for
eign commerce
=. ne law SnOulu recognize the es
sential difference between things which
restrain trade In the case Of ordinary
mercantile concerns and those which
restrain trade In the case Of common
carriers The question OF competition
Is not the only fair criterion
O. The law should expressly provid,
for the meeting and agreement OF traf
fic or other officers % railroads In re
spect of rates or practices. Thi.
should, however be safegua rded by
requiring the agreements to be filed
with the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion and to he subject to be disapprov
ed by II.
MY legal proposition" Mr. Thon
said lis that the Constitution as
now is gives full authority TO Congress
to regulate the lnstrumentalities of In
terstate commerce in all their parts
IL the power of regulation is TO reacl
the public requirements II must be co
extensive with the instrumentalities o
commerce.
Mr.. Thorn explained that the road
are not asking either Of the Ccmmitte,
or of Congress any increase In reve
nues but that they are merely nskini
the perfection OF system which wi!
be responsible to any need that ma,
| artSe