The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1917-01-18
PLAN 10. RESUME
RAILWAY INQUIRY
after MARCH Attn
Plstponemsnt Forced by Press
Of Congressional Business.
COUNTRY DEMANDS ACTION

maho OnlflcatioE OF System OF Rail-
way ReguIation-Roads Ask Fewer
Masters.
Washington, Dec. 1S.-The Congress
sional Joint Committee on Interstate
Commerce. which has been conducting
the inquiry into government regulation
ana control of transportation, last
week decided to suspend its hearings
on the subject and adjourned, subject
to the call Of the chairman, because of
tho pressure Of other work before Con
gress. According to the resolution ere
at1ng the committee, 1t is required to
submit q 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 q 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-
er, that the hearings will not be resum-
ed until after adjournment of Congress
on March 4th. In addition to 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-
vious 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 other
who are interested in the inquiry un
dertaken by the Newlands Committe
insist that there is no intention OF
abandoning it.
1t seems doubtful, indeed. If the
country would permit the matter to
be dropped IL there We're evidence Of a
desire on the part of Congress to d.
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 t~hemselves-are alive to the fact
that the railway situation is highly I'LL
satisfactory and that steps must be
taken without unnecessary delay t.
make 1t possible for the railroads t.
meet the growing needs of the nation
From reports received here 1t seem
as though almost every commercial or
g%anization and business interest in th
country were engaged in studying tb
railroad que tion. The Chamber q
Commerce OF, the United States h.
been conducting an elaborate inquirs
into various phases of the subject 70
many months past. Many local al,
state commercial bodies in every par
Of the country have committees Ell
gagged In study of the problem ans
have indicated a desire to come here
II present their views. National or.
CARNATIONS of manufacturers, lumber
men, coal operators. wholesale and re-
tail dealers, hare expressed through
resolutions their desire for the unifica-
ton OF the system Of railway regula-
ton. The National Industrial Trafl,
League, speaking from the viewpoint
OF shippers using the railways, has
Endorsed exclusive federal regulation
providing 1t is accomplished in such u
way as to give full protection and
prompt adjustment In matters relating
to transportation within the states.
Many interests Studying Problem.
All these organizations represent pri-
marily the shippers of the country. bu;
they are not the only ones who are
taking a hand III the discussion. The
investors OF the nation, through their
W associations and through commit
tees representing the savings banks and
other financial organizations, are pre-.
pairing to show the necessity Of improy-
Ing railroad credit and protecting the
rights OF those whose money is invest.
ed In railway securities. Finally the
railroads themselves, being vitality con.
cerned In the Improvement of existing
conditions, are planning to submit their
views through their executives, oper.
ating officials and traffic experts and
to assert their willingness to accept far.
reaching federal regulation along lines
that will enable them to attract capital
and to provide the facilities needed for
the prompt q efficient handling OF
the country's transportation business.
Main Trouble 10 Too Many Masters.
Not alrS6fsthese interests are In ac-
cord as to the remedies that should be
adopted. There seems to be & general
agreement, however. that many OF the
difficulties which confront the railroads
and which make IL fmpOssible for tha,r
to meet the requirements of the ma.
tons commerce promptly and satisfac.
torily arise from the haphazard and
often conflicting measures Of regulation
that have been adopted from time to
time by the federal government and the
forty-eight states and that what Is
needed is q well ordered, systematic
scheme OF federal regulation TINT shall
cover the whole country ana make Ii
possible for the railroads to provide the
extensions and improved facilities So
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