The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-04-05
RAILROAD SITUATION
Is NOW LARGELY
Up TO CONGRESS
Must Share Responsibility In
Future Development.
ROBERT S. LOvETT'S VIEWS

"Unification of Regulation Is Essential"
A Complete, Harmonious, Consistent
and Related System Needed-Federai
incorporation of Railroads by Gener-
al Law Favored.
Washington, March 26.-Responsibil-
ity for the railway development of the
country, for providing necessary trans
porta ton facilities to care for the grow
ing business and population of the
country, now rests largely with con-
gress and not entirely with the rail
road managers This was the state
ment of Judge Robert S. Lovett, chair
man of the executive committee of the
Union Pacific system, to the Newlands
joint congressional committee when
that body resumed it's inquiry into
the subject of railroad regulation this
week
In making this statement of the
changed conditions of the railroad sit
uation Judge Lovett undoubtedly had
in mind the decision Of the supreme
court on the Adamson law, handed
down last week, which establishes the
right of the federal government to fix
railroad wages and to prevent strikes.
This decision is regarded by railroad
in the development of transportation
in the United States.
1--WE have our share of responsible
ity." said Judge Lovett, ''but 1t rests
primarily on congress. When the gov
eminent regulates the rates and the
| financial administration of the rail
roads, the borrowing of money and the
issuance of securities it relieves the
railroad officers of the responsibility of
providing and developing Transports
ton systems, except within the limits
of the revenue that can be realized from
such rates and under such restrictions.
For a country such as ours, for a
people situated as we are. to blunder
along with Il series of unrelated, In con-
| sistent conflicting statutes enacted by
different states without relation to
each other, instead of providing com
| plete and carefully studied and pre-
pared system of regulation for bust
ness that is so vital to the life of the
nation, is worse than folly
He summed up the present problems
and difficulties of the railroads as fol
lows:
First.-The multiplicity of regula-
lions by the several states with respect
to the issue of securities, involving de-
laws and conflicting state policies gen
orally dangerous and possibly diSas-
trOuS
Second.-The state regulation OF
rates in such a manner as to unduly
reduce revenues, to discriminate In ia
vor of localities and shippers within
its own borders as against localities
and shippers in other states and to dis
turb and disarrange the structure OF
! interstate rates.
Third.-The inability OF the Inter
! state Commerce Commission, whoever
the commissioners may be, to perform
the vast duties devolving upon 1t un
der existing laws, resulting In delay
which should never occur In CONNER
cial matters-and compelling the com
missioners to accept the conclusions o
their employees as final In deciding
matters of great Importance to thu
commercial and railroad interests o
| the country.
Fourth.-The practical legality tina
has been accorded conspiracies to I'll
up and suspend the operation OF tn