Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1916-12-15
SAFETY DEMANDS
FEDERAL CONTROL
OF THE RAILROADS
Only Way TO Meet Emergencies
Of Nation, says A. P. Thorn.
STATES RIGHTS PRESERVED

| 0oN0TU no9uioSoTy SyoNS"' ~ ''NS'
ssts Of Public and the Roads-com-
pulsory System Of Federal incorpo.
| 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 2. 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.
"We must be efficient as a nation IL
we are to deal successfully with our
national emergencies" said Mr. Thorn
land we must appreciate that efficient
transportation 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
clenc! lLnpoSSlDIe
States Rights Would Not Suffer-
MIR. Thorn cited many instances In
which shippers In one state were In
iuriously affected by selfish regula-
lions imposed on the railroads by
neighboring states. He pointed out
that federal regulation would he 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 We're sum
married. by Mr.. Thorn as follows
l. The entire mower 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 the
just rights Of the carriers.
= AS one or the means or accom-
pishing this. a system of compulsory
\ federal incorporation should be adopt
ed. into which should be brought al
i railroad corporations engaged in inter
state or foreign commerce.
f 3 The Interstate Commerce Commits
a sion under existing la VS. has too much
to do and Is charged with conflicting
q prosecution and decision of cases. The
r latter duties should be placed In the
e 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 10
r cal cases
+, 4 The power of the Commission
should he extended TO enable 1t to pre-
scribe minimum rates and not merely
:, maximum rates as at present This
u would increase their power 10 prevent
UNJUST determinations
i Justice to Public and Roads.
i & It should he made the duty of the
t Interstate Commerce Commission. il
the exercise of it's powers to fix rea
Sonahle rates. to so adjust these rate,
!" that they shah be Just at once to the
u public and to the carriers. To this enc
II the Commission, in determining rates
I. should consider the necessity of main
tanning efficient transportation and ex
tensions of facilities. the relation o.
> expenses to rates and the rights OF
|. shippers, stockholders and creditors o.
the roads.
6. The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion should be invested with the pow
er TO fix the rates for carrying mails.
. I. The federal government shoulC
have exclusive power to supervise tn,
,e issue of stocks and bonds by railroa,
carriers engaged in Interstate and for
eign commerce.
~ s. The Law should recognize the es
10 seatial difference between things whicl
restrain trade III the ease of ordnar,
a mercantile concerns and those whicl
=. restrain trade III the case of common
r. carriers. The question of competition
is not the only fair criterion.
: 9 The law should expressly provid
. for the meetnI and agt cement of trai
Is lie or other aicers of railroads III re
~pc"t Of ratios or practices. Thi
ii should. however. he safeguardcd b.
n rnquirn. the agreements to he flo
with the Interstate Commerce COMMITS
sion and tc be subject to he disaplnov
ed 10y il.
My legal proposition Mr.. Thor
said lis that the Constitution rs
: nov is gives fuli authority to Congress
= e. rc-uiatc The instrumcntalities Of il
:, tefstafe commerce IN ali their Eart,
at II he power of regulation Is 20 reac
I'd ne public requirements, il must he e
r extensive With he Observation-Disclosures q
~ ummerce.
u Mr.. Thom explained that the road
are not asking either of the CemmiItc
or of Congress- any increase in rero
ie au,s but that obey are merely nskiu
x the pprfry.t l9n of n Sy, irtn which ,yI