The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1917-01-04
TO RESUME

Washington, Dec. 30.-The Congress.
sional Joint Committee on Interstate
Commerce, which has been conducting
the inquiry into government regulation
and control Of transportation. last
week decided to suspend its hearings
On the subject and adjourned. subject
the pressure Of other work before Con
gress. According to the resolution Gre
ating the committee, II is required to
submit a report by January 9Th next.
1t is understood that before that time
the committee will ask for an extern
sion Of time and that the hearings will
be resumed at a later date, when some
Of those who already have appeared
before the committee will be question
ed further and a great many others
will be heard. 1t Is probable, howev-
or. that the hearings will not be resum-
ed until after adjournment OF Congress
on March 4th. In addition to regular
routine business the com
mittees OF the two houses are charged
with the important duty Of preparing
and presenting the Legislation asked
for by President Wilson to make i'm
possible a railroad strike without pre-
vious investigation. This VIII leave
little or no time for the consideration
Of the general questions OF railway
regulation.
Country Wants Something Done.
Members Of Congress and others
who arc Interested in the inquiry I'M
dertaken by tho Newlands Committee
insist that there Is no intention OF
abandoning It.
1t seems doubtful, indeed, II the
country would permit h matter TO
be dropped If there were evidence OF a
desire on the part OF Congress to do
NO. The nation wide evidences OF In
terest evoked by the initiation OF the
Newlands inquiry show that the peo
pie Of the country-shippers, consum-
ers and investors, as well as railway
men themselves-are alive to the fact
that the railway situation IL highly un-
satisfactory and that steps must be
taken without unnecessary delay to
make 1t possible for the railroads to
meet the growing needs OF the nation.
From reports received here 1t seems
as though almost every commercial or
ganizatiOn and business interest In the
country were engaged In studying the
railroad question. The Chamber OF
Commerce Of the United States has
been conducting an elaborate inquiry
into various phases Of the subject for
many months past. Many local and
state commercial bodies In every part
Of the country have committees n
gagged in study OF the problem and
and present their views. National or
g%anizations OF manufacturers, lumber
men, coal operators. wholesale and re-
tail dealer, have expressed through
resolutions their desire for the unifca-
ton Of the system Of railway regula-
ton. The National Industrial Traffic
League. speaking from the v%iewpoin,
Of shippers using the railways. has
Endorsed exclusive federal regulation
providing 1t Is accomplished In such Il
way as to give full protection and
prompt adjustment In matters relating
to transportation within the states.
Many Interests Studying ProbIsm.
All these organizations represent pri-
marily the shippers of the country. but
they are not the only ones who are
taking a hand In the discussion. The
investors Of the nation. through their
own associations and through commit.
tees representing the savings banks and
other financial organizations. are pre-.
pairing to show the necessity Of improv.