Evening journal., 1916-09-27
hasten RELIEF
FOR RAILROADS
Eight-Hour Day Adds TO
Urgency Of General
Bills
FIRST HEARING ON
NOVEMBER 20


upon senator's and representatives
that foreign relations and national
defense as well as national prosperity
demand energetic and prompt meas
ures affecting railways" the Railway
Business Association. national organ
ization OF manufacturing. mercantile
and engineering concerns which deal
with steam railways. issues a bulletin
which declares that THE enormous
Increase in operating expenses com
polled by the eight-hour law accentu-
ates the necessity for general legisla-
tion 10 bring regulation into proper
relation with the facts Of the business
as they exist
The legislation proposed is to be ad-
vocated before the Joint Committee Of
Congress which has set hearings to
begin November 20 and is to report in
January. 1917.
Following are the points under
scored
Slump In Railway Growth.
/. improvement Of existing rail-
ways and construction Of new lines
has been seriously retarded Il Is
A'''nntAf w ~ NA'h W ANN NhAlAl III
the 90's 20 find a smaller increase per
cent than that of 1914 over 1909 either
In miles Of track or in miles of line.
p Transportation development pri-
marily for commercial and agricul-
tural purposes IS the foundation OF
transportation for defense. Trans
portation facilities this year have been
hardly anywhere equal TO the strain
and at some points have broken down
utterly. A mere Inodicum OF the war
traffic which an American embroll-
ment would entail superimposed upon
lax general business. has exhausted
our transportation resources.
3. Cessation OF railway develop
men. is due TO the belief OF investors
thai governmental influences will
keep railway earnings too low IN
proportion TO inescapable railway
expenses Investors look forward
past the fat year TO the lean year.
They await correction OF the defects
in the regulatory system.
For Congress TO Act.
e. Upon Congress in the main
rests the burden OF reorganizing the
system of supervision over railwayG.
Test cases carried TO the highest
court have established the supre-
macy OF the national government
over whatever factors may influence
interstate commerce.
8. Incorporation and the regula-
tion OF security issues should be fed
eral What Is permitted in one State
is forbidden by another. Even when
the various masters concur. the pro-
cess Of obtaining sanction is long
and costly.
s. Supervision over rates which
affect interstate commerce should be
made federal by statute. Some Inter
state Commerce Commissioners doubt
their power In this respect.
Z. The Interstate Commerce Com
mission should have power to FIX
minimum as we'll as maximum rates
The commission is unable IN read
lusting a rate-schodule for the pri
mary purpose OF eliminating dis
crimination. TO protect the carriers
involved as a whole from impair
ment of their total revenue.
To Make Both Ends Meet.
s. Congress should by statute de-
clare it the policy of the government
TO permit such rate systems as will
WELD the roads revenue sufficient to
perform adequate serviNe and to at
tract investments for improvements
and extensions. II has constantly
beeu urged that the commission, un-
der the language OF the act could
only consider one rate at time and
never whole rate fabrics in the light
of total earnings and total needs. AZ
was proposed in connection with the
eighthour-day legislation that the
commission should be dh ected to con
slider wage advances IN fixing rat s.
The commission chould have a stand
ing rule from Congress to consider.
In fixing rates. not only wages but
every other factor affecting expense.
@ Congress should authorize the
creation of regional sub-commissions
appointed by the President subordin-
ale to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. and exercising administra-
tive juris sdiction over areas CORES.
pon5ink to traffic movement Ship
pers and railways complain that ad
ministration as conducted by eNamin.
ers. Is .low aud complicated and re.
aulres 'itigants TO travel to Washing.
ton 81 an unjustifiable expenditure OF
time and money. II is proposed 10
meet this situation by having sub