Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-04-06
SITUATION
! IS NOW LARGELY
up 10 CONGRESS
Must Share Responsibility In
Future Development.
ROBERT 5. L0vETT'S VIEWS

Qualification Of Regulation Is Essential"
A Complete, Harmonious, Consistent
and Related System Needed-Federal
Incorporation of Railroads by Gener.
al Law Favored.
Washington, March 26.-Responsibii-
tty 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. Loyett, 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 tho
right of the federal government to Fix
railroad wages and to prevent strikes.
This decision is regarded by railroad
men and lawyers i, marking an epoch
in the development Of Transportation
in the United States.
I'VE have our share Of responsible
fty," said Judge Lovett, .'but it rests
primarily Oh 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 be realized from
such rates and under such restrictions.
For q country such as ours, for a
people situated as we are, to blunder
along with q series OF unrelated, inccn.
%sistent, conflicting statutes enacted 10y
different states without relation to
each other, instead Of providing n
plete and carefully studied and pre-
pared system Of regulation for a 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 -aof
rates In such a as to unduly
reduce revenues. to discriminate in IA
vor Of localities and shippers within
Its WI borders as against localities
and shippers in other states and to dis
turb and d~isarrange the structure of
interstate rates.
Thfrd.-The inability Of the Inter.
state Commerce Commission, whoever
the commissioners may be. to perform
the vast duties devolving upon it un.
der existing laws. resulting In delay
which should never occur in CONNER
cial matters-and compelling the com.
m%issioners to accept the conclusions Of
their employees as final In deciding
matters Of great Importance to the.
commercial and railroad interests of
the country.
Fourth.-The practical legality that
has been accorded conspiracies to tie
up and suspend the operation OF the
railroads Of the country by strikes and
violence and the absence Of any law
to compel the settlement Of such dis
putes BY arbitration or other judicial
means, - Ill other issues between citi-
sens In civilized states are to be set
tied.
Fifth.-Ths phenomenal increass In
tho taxation Of railroads In recent
years.
Sixth-The cumulative effect OF
these conditions upon the investing
public, TO which railroad companies
must look Tor the capital necessary to
continue development.
I'VE believe that the uni6cation OF
segulation q essential said Judge
lOvetk and that With the rapid in-
crease Of state commissions 10 recent
years congress viii 81 time be com.
pslIsd g exsrcisS IT. power In the
premisek 10 unity regulation there
should ~ 4 complete. hdrmonloils, con.
slStont ana related 6ystem. We BE-
lieyosfhe beet,stf noe4tho only ptactical
.plan, u the Atedesal incorporation OF
sralIfoads 81 general law, which viii.
-AAAL