The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1917-01-19
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEE BEGINS
RAILWAY INQUIRY
Proposed by President 10 Bet.
Ter Condition Of Carriers,
MAY CHANGE PRESENT SYSTEM

Officials Of Roads Prepared to AdveossS
Federal incorporation, Supervision Of
Securities and Extension Of Authority
Of Interstate counneres Commission.
Washington, Nov 2O-Ten members
Of Congress, Ave Senators and five
members of the House OF Representa-
tives, began here Today an inquiry into
Tie subject of public control and SUI
bkrtislon Of railroads that mny lead to
the revolutiUnizitg Of the whole scheme
9f governmental regulation Of tile c0uti-
tfy's t: transportation lines. incidentally
the committee is "a look into the ques-
ton OF government ownership tf rSh.
ways, telephone and telegraph lines
and express companies.
The members OF the committee
which will conduct this important In
vestigatiOn are Senator Newlands OF
Nevada, chairman: Senators Robinson
OF Arkansas, Underwood Of Alabama,
Cummins OF Iowa and Brandegee o.
Connecticut, ana Representatives Ad-
ainsoh Of Georgia. sIins OF Tennessee,
thiiob, bf indiana, ,Esch Of Wisconsin
4h. Haihilton II Aiichigah. The IN
Hhify was recommended by President
Wilson III Ills message to Congress in
December Of last yeaf. lie described
as its purpose to determine what cOtld
be done "fOr bettering the conditions
under which the railroads are operated
and for making them more useful serv-
ants Of the country rs q whole"
Prominent Men az Witnesses.
in order to obtain tile views OF all
lhtelests affeeted ~ the heeoperatiohs- Of
tile Transportation lines the committee
Has invited prominent shippers, bank
efs, representatives Of coinihercid or
gahizatlohs railway executives. ecotid..
lfiists ahd others to appear before them.
The first to he Heard are railroa1
commissioners Of vafiois states who
began their evidence today. Tlieir
Testimony Is directed Chiefly to opbos-
ing any enlargement OF tile federal
authority over commerce that would
detract from the powers now exercised
by state bodies. They will be followed
shortly by officials Of railway labor
organizations who are expected to reg
lister their opposition to the increase
] m governmental authority over wages
! and conditions Of labor.
Chief interest I'm the hearings ceii-
ters in the proposals that will be put
forward by representatives OF the rail
r0ads, for It IL reported that they will
advocate an extension OF federal Du.
thority over rates and securities to the
| practical exclusion of state control OF
these matters. Ii is understood also that
they will so on record III favor Of fed
eral incorporation of all railroad lilies
Legislative Program Of Railroads.
From an authoritative source is OBJ
tanned the following outline Of the leg
lslatiye program which the railroads
will ask the committee to consider IN
IT, investigation: They will endcavor
to demonstrate to the commission that
one Of the principal defects in the pres
ent system Of railroad regulation IL
the lack OF coordination resulting from
the simultaneous and conflicting regt-
latlOn by the federal government and
by the 4S states. They will, therefore,
ask that entire governmental control
Of the rates and practices of Interstate
carriers. except purely local matters,
be placed in the hands Of federal
body so that interstate trafiic may he
regulated without reference to state
lines, leaving TO the state commissions
Jurisdiction only over local matters and
local public utilities. As a part OF this
plan, compulsory system OF federal
incorporation Is to be recommended.
accompanied by federal supervision of
railroad stock and bond issues
A reorganization OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission will be asked.
In order to enable the commission prop
erly to exercise its increased powers.
1t is also proposed that the preparation
and prosecution OF cases against the
railroads shall he delegated to some
other agency Of the government, posi-
bly, the Department of Justice, so that
the commission may devote its eneI-
giles to its administrative functions.