Evening star., 1917-01-16
PROPOSE REMEDIES
FORRA|LROAD|LLS
Subject Discussed by Speak
ers at Dinner of Washington
Economic Club.
VIEWS ARE NOT IN ACCORD

Remedies for all the ills to which
the transportation system of the coun-
try is heir were prescribed by rail-
road physicians of nearly every schooi
of thought on the subject at a dinner
given by the Economic Club of WASH
ington at the New Ebbitt last night
The extension of federal regulation
of railroads, with the elimination OF
state control in the case OF inter-
state carriers. was urged by such emf
nent authorities on the subject as
Frank Trumbull chairman of the rail-
way executives advisory committee,
and Prof William T. Ripley of Harvard
University. A middle ground by which
the regulation and control of railways
should be vested in regional BODIES,
representing several states IN Which
conditions are closely allied. was sug-
xested by Oscar T. Crosby, widely
known as an electrical engineer and
organizer of electrical street railways.
Prescribes Government Ownership.
Government ownership of railways
and other public utilities was pre-
scribed, as the only means by which
q unified country could be obtained,
by Frederic c. Howe, United States
immigration commissioner at New
York. Milo r. Maltbie. former public
service commissioner OF New YORK
state. pointed out the ills which
federal control and the elimination OF
state regulation might bring.
Senator Newlands of Nevada, chair
man of the Senate interstate commerce
committee. in charge of the railroad
legislation which is urged by President
diners
road problem was the most important
which the country faces today
The president of the Economic Club.
Thomas Ewing. commissioner of pat
ents, introduced the speakers.
Senator Newlands said that the
threatened railroad strike last Septem-
ber had demonstrated how little civili-
cation has done to settle such indus
problem. he said, must be undertaken
by Congress to carry out the pledge of
the President when he urged Congress
to enact the Adamson eight-hour law.
Reproach to Civilization.
1T is a reproach to civilization that
It has not provided some reasonable
means for settling disputes between
employees and the railroads." said Senar
tor Newlands. "and that brute force
may still be invoked. We have not yet
taken hold of the possible question of
civil war arising in this country out of
disputes between labor and capital"
Senator Newlands urged the necessity
of co-ordinating rail, river and ocean
transportation.
The regulation of interstate COM
merce is today in sad plight" said
Prof. Ripley. He mentioned instances
of conflicting action by state and fed
eral government, particularly in con-
nection with the rates charged. In
some states, he said, attempts have
been made to restrict rigidly the issue
Of securities.
Prof. Ripley, in support of federal
regulation and federal incorporation of
berless Instances where railroads oper
ate hundreds and even thousands of
miles from the state in which they
derive their corporate powers. The
Southern Pacific, he said, derived its
powers from kentucky; the Atlantic
Coast Line, when it was operated as a
holding corporation. from New Jersey,
and the FL Paso and New Mexico road
also'from New Jersey.
Adequate Service First.
For fifteen years we have been try
ing to force the railroads to do some
thing with nothing" he said. 1T is
more important that we should have
adequate service than that we should
have low rates. We have pinched the
carriers. We must recognize the need
of greater returns to the railroads. The
railroads should be granted greater
measure of corporation. They are un-
able to cooperate now because of the
stringent enforcement of the antitrust
laws. The railroad is natural monop-
oily. and the sooner we recognize that
fact the better. Today there is vast
amount of useless duplication of serv-
ice. The field should be properly di-
vided. bringing better service and more
revenue. The roads should he allowed
to pool their resources under adequate
supervision at Washington"
Mr.. Crosby opened his address with
parody prayer in which he made the
railroads pray to the government at
Washington for relief and protection.
He said that he was not convinced by
any means that federal control of the
roads would solve all the troubles, and
he suggested that IL would be just as
ridiculous for a board at Washington
TO handle the problems of a road in Ari-
xona as for a board meeting in New
Jersey to do so.
81 believe there is a middle course"
said Mr.. Crosby. land that is regional
regulation. We should establish sec
tional regions and bodies to control the
railroads therein. with the consent of
Congress. The wages of trainmen
might well be different in New York
end in Arizona, for instance
Standards for investors.
He urged the establishment of a
definite standard to guide the invest
ing public in the matter of railroads.
particularly with regard to what re-
turn the roads were to be allowed to
make.
John Smith, he said. will soon
cease to lend his money without know
lowed to make. Congress should deter
mine this matter and not leave Ii to