Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-04-07
RAILROAD CONTROL
Now Have FOrty-nine Conflicting
Masters.
DIFFICULT TO SERVE PUBLIC.

Favor Reorganization Of Interstate
Commerce Commission, Giving II Ex-
cIus.yely TIE Powers and Functions Of
Overlapping and Conflicting Commits.
sions of Many States.
Washington. - The rumors that the
federal government would assume clos
err control OF transportation problems
by establishing a new cabinet portfolio
persist, despite the fact that Daniel
Willard, president Of the Baltimore
and Ohio, who was said to be slated
for the place, declared last week that
there was no foundation for them. A
representative Of the railway execu-
tives' advisory committee of New York
says that this story Of new cabinet
place is doubtless distorted outgrowth
of the attitude Of railway arrangements
In favoring complete federal regula-
ton. Mr.. Willard Is an active mem
Der OF the advisory committee.
The proposal Of the advisory COM
mittee, according to Assistant Chair
man Francis II. Sisson, is not the crea-
ton Of a new cabinet portfolio. Such
a move the committee deems unneces-
sary. 1t favors instead the reorgani-
cation Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, giving 1t exclusively the
powers and functions Of the overlap
ping and conflicting commissions Of
forty-eight states.
Railroad men realize that in this
critical hour Of the country's history
they must join with the other business
interests Of the nation In promoting the
common good" said Mr.. Sisson. ''The
situation calls for prompt and efficient
transportation preparedness for either
war or peace. We place our case In the
public's hands. The solution of the
problem awaits its understanding
and constructive action. Whatever
may have been the mistakes Of the
past, our desire today is to serve the
public In the most efficient manner pos
sible, to have the transportation bust
ness treated as the nations business,
to be regulated on behalf Of all the
states and in the public interest"
The fundamental contention OF the
advisory committee il that the consti-
tuition Of the United States places the
regulation Of interstate commerce In
the hands Of congress to whatever ex-
tent congress chooses to exercise 1t.
State commissions and legislatures, 1t
holds, can exercise only so much au-
thority az congress fails to use. The
states, however, have gradually ex-
tended their activities In this direction
until there Is a multiplicity Of conflict
Ing regulations.
The railroads now serve forty-nine
conflicting masters, and railroad men
say that this condition makes 1t in
creaslngly difficult to serve the public
properly. They feel, however, that the
suggestion Of a new cabinet portfolio
Of transportation. while not likely to
be adopted, is Indicative Of the increas.
ing appreciation In governmental cir
cles Of the Importance of federal con-
troll Of railroads. This control would
cover supervision Of railroad securities,
federal incorporation Of interstate car
riers, regulation Of rates, regional
and functional division Of the work of
the Interstate Commerce Commission,
restriction Of rate suspension to not
more than sixty days and giving the
Interstate Commerce Commission pow
er to prescribe minimum as well as
maximum rates.