The Jasper weekly courier., 1916-12-15
SAFETY DEMANDS
FEDERAL CONTROL
OF THE RAILROADS
Only Way to Meet Emergencies
Of Nation. Says 4 P. Thom,
STATES RIGHTS PRESERVED
Prinoielss Which AAiIwsys Hold Should
Govern Regulatory systsm In Inter-
eats % Public and the Rsads-Com-
pulsory System Of Federal tneorPo.
ration Favored.

pulsory System of fsdsra' sheorPo'
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 p. Thorn, counsel
10 the Railway Executives Advisory
Committee, I'm concluding his prelim'
mary statement OF the case for the
railways before the Newlands Joint
Committee on Interstate Commerce.
I'VE must be efficient "a a nation IL
we are TO deal successfully with our
national emergencies" said Mr.. Thom,
"and we must appreciate that efncient
transportation is an essential condition
of national efficiency. If 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 enl-
cheney impossible"
States Rights Would Not Suffer.
Mr.. Thorn cited many instances In
which shippers in one state were In
juriously affected by selfish regula-
: tons imposed on the railroads by
: neighboring states. He pointed out
I 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
D products across state boundaries.
= = What the Railroads ,Adyocate.
The principles which the railroads
believe should be incorporated in any
DI lust system OF regulation were sum
I married. by Mr.. Thorn "a follows:
1. The entire power and duty OF reg
"a ulation should befin the hands or the
, national government, except as to mat
!. tefs SO. essentially local and incidental
"fthat they cannot be used TO interfere
- With the efficiency Of the service or th'
|; - isSsst Rights ,of the carriers.
!. ,g2 As one Of the means OF accom-
lei i.plishins this, = system OF compulsory
If federal incorporation should be adopt
10 ed. into which should be brought al
IF railroad corporations engaged In Inter
r. state or Foreign commerce.
!. 8. The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion under existing laws has too mucl
lo to do and Is charged with conflicting
" functions. including the investigation
'e prosecution and decision OF cases. Th
)y latter duties should be placed In tn
w hands of a new body which might b
Dr called the Federal Railroad COmmiS
ad sion. Regional Commissions shonl
= o be established in different parts q
or the country to assist the lnterS'aI
: Commerce Commission by handling k
cal cases.
The power Of the Commis~io
should be extended to enable 1t to pre-
i scribe minimum rates and not merel
Mi maximum rates as at present. IN
would increase their power to preVeI
!. unjust Determinations.
Justice TO Public and Roads.
~ < Ii should be made the duty Of Il
Tn tarutate Commerce Commission.
ILL the sxwciA Of its powers to fix re
sons0le rst1R, b - adjust these rate
,r that sAsy sAan - just Ct once to Il
public and b the cArrierA To this Ell
the Commission, In determining rate
uY should consider the necessity OF mai
tanning efficient transportation and q
ef tensions OF facilities. the relation
expenses to rates and the rights
shippers. stockholders and creditors
the roads.
6. The Interstate Commerce Comm
sion should be invested with the po
M er TO fix the rates for carrying mails
Iii 7. The federal government shou
have exclusive power 10 supervise t
issue of stocks and bonds by railro
~ carriers engaged IN interstate asd Il
kU. eign con- merce.
6. The law should recognize the
sential difference between things VIII
restrain trade In the case or ordlna
" mercantile concerns end those VII
restrain trade In the case or comm
uay carriers. The question OF competit
Is not the only fair criterion.
|. .6U 8. The law should expressly prov
for the meeting and agreement OF II
ali &c or other officers Of railroads In
and spect OF rates or practices.
70 ahould. however, be safeguarded
- recurring the agreements 20 be Il
with the Interstate Commerce CONN
ioei Lon and TO I've subject 10 b. disappr
ed by IL
.age My legal proposition. Mr tt
,ulS. said, "is that the Constitution al
re- now is gives fun authority 10 Congl
TO regulate the inStrumentalities OF
.rest terstate commerce in all their ia
II the power of regulation Is TO re
~ the public requirements. IL must he
'0o extensive with the instrumentahtie
commerce"
:. "A Mr.. Thom explained that the r.
are not asking either OF the Commi
or OF Congress any increase In
nues, but that they are merely asi
Deed the perfection OF & system which
,rtga- be responsible TO any need that