New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-18

investigating the whole TRANSPORT,
ton problem the following sugys,
tons for meeting the situation:
FirSt-Federal supervision Of nail.
road securities.
Second incorporated =,
/ interstate carriers.
Third-Federal regulation ofn..,
Fourth-A regional and funetiO,,,
division Of the work Of the Irt,.
state Commerce Commission.
Fifth-Restriction of rate susu,,
sions to not more than sixty day,
.Sirth-Giving the Interstate Con.
merce Commission power to up.
scribe minimum as well as maximur
rates.
It is the belief of the railroad e,.
ecutives that if regulation can h.
unified under one head, with r..
gional subdivisions, a great part q,
their present difficulty will be re.
moved.
Railroad economy and efficienc,
under most exacting and embarraS.
ing conditions have accomplishsI
such surprising results that str
greater advancement might be e.
pected under the encouragement 0,
fair and reasonable regulation.
Constructive suggestions whjcI
may be offered to relieve the strain
IN the railroad situation immedis,.
ly, and which, if adopted, promise |,
better day for the railroads thar
they have seen within decade, mar
be briefly summed up as follows:
First-Increased rates and shorter
periods of suspension.
.Second-Federal regulation Of rate,
and security issues.
Third-Federal regulation Of wage.
Fourth-Repeal OF state and Fed.
ersl antitrust acts in their applIes.
ton to railroads.
Fifth-A division Of the duties Of
the Interstate Commerce CommlsslOA
so the same body does not act a.
prosecutor, judge and jury.
.Sirth-Cooperation on the part .!
legislative, regulating and shlpplri
interests to protect railroad erets
and to further railroad expansion.
.SeUenth--Co5perstion OF investor
to protect and maintain credit.
Eighth--Recognltion Of our n
tional unity Of interest In a fund.-
mental economic problem.
These are all obviously possible
and If provided would give a great
impetus not only to the railroad.
but to business generally. Business
can prosper only as 1t Is adequately
served by efficient transpOrtston,
and the problem Of getting goctsr
market is Of vastly greater impr'
lance than the rate to be paid.
1t Is eonservatiyeiy estimated thu
more than Si,0o0,000,OOO q year y
new money must be put into thi
transportation system Of the countr
in order to meet It's pressing need
This money must be raised throun
the sale Of new securities. In orts
to be assured q market under u
severe competition now existing ~
investment funds the earning poSs
and stability of railroad inyestmea1
must be assured.
The solution TO the problem J
surely offered in the continuation q
private ownership and operati',
properly regulated and protecla
The American people, with thsH|
long record Of constructive achieve
ment, ought to be able to deal WIN
the subject as decisiveiy and eos
structively as they did with th'
banking problem. .
The need of the hour IS Rsiioasl
unity. In unity Of Interest and
spiris, without useless recrimisati01'
from any quarter, the railroad w
uatioR must be aDrroache' ~ az
classes and sections in order uH
this pressing problem, in which IN
prosperity of all is involved, may |"
solved along right lines, in fairass
to all, in the public interest.