The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-01-19
PLAN TO RESUME
RAILWAY INQUIRY
AFTER MARCH 4TH
PoslponsRsnt Forced by Press
Of Congressional Business.
COUNTRY DEMANDS ACTION

Shipper, investors and Representa-.
| tlves Of All Branches Of Business De.
nand unifeation Of System Of Rail.
way Rssulatien-Roads Ask Fsws,
| Masters.
Washington, Dec. 1S-The Congrss
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 hearingl
on the subject and adjourned, subject
to the cali Of the chairman, because OF
the pressure Of other work before Con.
gress. According to the resolution Gre
ating the committee. It II required TO
submit 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 later date, when some
Of those who already have appeared
before the committee win be question
ed further and great many others
will be heard. II is probable, howev.
er, that the hearings will not be resum-
ed until after adjournment Of Congress
on March 4th. In addition 10 regular
routine business the commerce 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-
yious investigation. This will 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 are interested In the inquiry I'M
dertaken by the Newlands Committee
insist that there Is no intention of
abandoning II.
II seems doubtful indeed, II the
country would permit the matter to
be dropped II there were evidence Of a
desire on the part of Congress 10 DO
so. The nationwide evidences Of In
terest evoked by the initiation Of the
Newlands inquiry show that the PEG
pie Of the country shippers, consum.
ers and investors, as we'll as railway
men themselves-are alive TO the fact
that the railway situation Is highly IN
satisfactory and that steps must be
taken without unnecessary delay TO
make II 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
bean 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 en-
gagged In study of the problem and
have indicated desire to come here
and present their views Natlonal or
CARNATIONS Of manufacturers, lumber
men, coal operators, wholesale and re-
tail dealers, have expressed through
resolutions their desire for the unifica-
ton Of the system Of railway regulA-
ton The National Industrial Traffic
League, speaking from thu Viewpoint
Of shippers using the railways. has
indorsed exclusive federal Regulator
providing Il 10 accomplished In such Q
way a. to give full protection and
prompt adjustment In matters relating
to transportation within tho stataA
Many lEes-ssts etDdytao Probisa.
All these organizations represent prt-
marfly the shippers Of The country, but
they are not tho only ones who are
taking hand IN the diseusston- Ths
tnvestors Of tho nation, through thalr
own associations and through commits
tees representing the avings banhu and
other financial organizations, are Pre-
pairing to show the necessity Of impeop-
ing railroad credit and protecting tha
rights Of those whose money Is mvost
u In railway secuttiaA Finally thu
themselves, being vitality con
IpAhpu IL tuO Improvements u oI10Ll0H
conditions, are planning to submit thaiI
Visws through thar executives, opap
attns oficials and trafi1c expeYts and
% assert their willingness to ACCEPT fAH
federal regulation along linss
hat win enable them to attract capital
md 10 provide the 'faeiiittas needed for
he prompt and ef1cient handling Of
be oountry's transportation business.
Main Tpsubis b Too Many Masssvs.
Not all Of these intarests are In -
.rd a. 10 the remedies that should be
ldoptsd fhazs seams TO be a genaral
lgresment, howsvsx, that many Of the
iinnculties which confront the railroads
md which make It impossible foy them
o meet the requirements OF thu m
Ions commerce promptly and satiSfns-
orily arise from the haphazard and
'ften conflicting measures Of regulation
hat have been adopted from tina 30
inc BY the federal government ana thu
orty eight states and that what Il
lsedsd IL q well ordered. systamatis