News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1917-04-04

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al Law Favored.
Washington, March 26.-Responsibil-
ity for the railway development of the
country, for providing necessary trans
portation 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
men and lawyers as marking an epoch
in the development of transportation
in the United States.
1--WE have our share Of responsible
ity," said Judge Lovett, but it 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 transporta-
ton systems, except within the Limits
of the revenue that can he realized r''1
such rates and under such rcstr ......
For country such as ours, for y
people situated as we are to bluuder
along with series of unrelated, incon.
sistent, conflicting statutes enacted by
different states without relation to
each other, instead OF providing a 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-
tons by the several states with respect
to the issue of securities, involving de-
lays 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
he commissioners may be, to perform
he vast duties devOlving upon it I'M
Ter existing laws, resulting in delay
which should never occur in CONNER
,ial matters-and compelling the COM
nissioners to accept the conclusions Of
heir employees as final in deciding
matters of great importance to the
commercial and railroad interests of
he country.
Fourth.-The practical legality that
las been accorded cOnspiracieS to tie
Up and suspend the operation Of the
of the country by strikes and
iolence and the absence of any law
o compel the settlement of such dis
utes by arbitration or other judicial
leans, as all other issues between citi-
ems in civilized states are to be set
led.
Fifth.-The phenomenal increase in
be taxation of railroads in recent
ears.
Sixth.-The cumulative effect of
hese conditions upon the investing
ublic, to which railroad companies
lust look for the capital necessary to
Ontinue development
1--WE believe that the unifcation of
equation is essential" said Judge
ovett, land that with the rapid in
rease of state commissions in recent
ears congress will in time be COM
elled to exercise its power in the
remises. To unity regulation there
lould be complete, harmonious, con-
stent and related system. We 90
eve the best, if not the only pract,."'
an, is the federal Incorporation
Threads by general law. which D.
axe incorporation Hereunder cu..
llsory, thus imposing on all railroad
'mpanies throughout the United
ates the same corporate powers and
strictions with respect to their finan-
al operations and the same duties
Id obligations to the public and the
'vernment, so that every investor will
low precisely what every railroad
rporation may and may not lawfully
!"
Judge Lovett contended that the so
ton of these problems and Difficult
IS rested with congress-. He told the
mmittee that under the constitution
e authority of the federal govern
ant is paramount, that congress has
e power to legislate for centralized
ntrol of railroads under federal char
rs and that it only remains for tina
dy to exercise that power.
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