The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-11-30
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEE BEGINS
RAILWAY INQUIRY
Proposed BY President TO Bst-
tor Condition Of Carriers
MAY CHANGE PRESENT SYSTEM

| s"Do'poFsHoV, oupeFNteton 81
Securities and Extension Of AuthorIt,
o. Interstate Commerce Commission.
Washington. Nov. 2o-Ten members
Of Congress. ave Senators and I've
members OF the House Of Representa-
uves, began here today an inquiry into
the subject Of public control and So
pervision Of railroads that may lead to
the revolutionizing Of the whole scheme
Of governmental regulation Of the coun-
try's transportation lines Incidentally
the committee IL to look into the ques-
ton Of government ownership Of rail-
ways. telephone and telegraph lines
and express companies.
The members Of the committee
which win conduct this important In
vestigation are Senator Newlands Of
Nevada, chairman; Senators Robinson
Cummins Of Iowa and Brandegee Of
Connecticut. and Representatives Ad-
amson Of Georgia. Sims Of Tennessee,
Cullop Of Indiana, Esch Of Wisconsin
and Hamilton Of Michigan. The IN
quiry was recommended by President
Wilson in his message to Congress In
December Of last year. He described
~ its purpose to determine what could
be done "for lettering the conditions
under which the railroads are operated
and for making them more useful serv-
ants Of the country as q whole"
Prominent Men 90 Witnesses.
In order to obtain the views Of ali
interests affected by the operations of
the transportation lines the committee
has invited prominent shippers. bank
ers, representatives Of commercial or
ganizations, railway executives. econo-
mists and others to appear before them.
The first to be heard are railroad
commissioners Of various states who
began their evidence today. Their
testimony is directed chiefly to oppos-
ing any enlargement Of the federal
authority over commerce that would
detract from the powers now exercised
by state bodies. They will be followed
shortly by officials Of railway labor
organizations who are expected to reg.
lister their opposition to the increase
Of governmental authority over wages
and conditions Of labor.
Chief interest In the hearings CEN
tiers In the proposals that will be put
forward by representatives of the rail-
roads. for II is reported that they will
advocate an extension OF federal au-
ttu IN. a.
practical exclusion OF state control of
these matters. II is understood also that
they will go on record in favor Of fed |
eral Incorporation Of all railroad lines.
Legislative Program OF Railroads.
From an authoritative source is OBJ |
tanned the following outline of the leg |
islative program which the railroads
Will ask the committee to consider In |
its investigation: They will endeavor
to demonstrate to the commission that
one Of the principal defects in the pres
ent system Of railroad regulation 10
the lack Of coordination resulting from
the simultaneous and conflicting regu-
lation by the federal government and
by the 4S states. They will, therefore,
ask that entire governmental control
Of the rates and practices Of interstate
carriers. except purely local matters,
be placed I'm the hands of a federal
body so that interstate trafic may be
regulated without reference to state
lines. leaving TO the state commissions
only over local matters and
ocal public utilities. As a part Of this
plan. compulsory system OF federal
Incorporation is to be recommended,
by federal supervision Of
'ailroad. stock and bond issues.
A Reorganization Of the Interstate
commerce Commission will be asked.
n order to enable the commission prop
rly to exercise its increased powers.
I Is also proposed that the prepare ton
md prosecution Of cases against the
ailroads shall be delegated to some
ther agency OF the government posi-
'ly the Department Of Justice, 90 that
he commission may devote its ener.
les to Its administrative functions.
With the commission thus relieved
{ some Of its present duties and equip
ed to handle its business more prompt
=. the railroads will urge that the Pc
lod during which the commission may
ow suspend proposed increases In
ltes be reduced from ten months to
days. with provision for reparat ton
} be paid to the shippers n the ad-
ance shall be declared unreasonable.
They will also ask that the commits
lon be given the power to prescribe
minimum as well as maximum rates
, that In meeting complaints OF dis
animation the commission may order
10 advance OF q rate which II consid-
- too low.
One OF the most important recon-
Iendations for which the railroads
III ask favorable consideration Is
lat the commission be specifically
lthorized to take into account In
Ito regulation the effect OF rates
pom total earnings in the light OF ex-
snses.
While the Newlands Committee is I,
'quired. under the resolution Great =
q II. TO submit report by January .
next, II is not anticipated that the