Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-04-04
RAILROAD SITUATION
Is NOW LARGELY
up TO CONGRESS-
Must Share Responsibility In
Future Development.
ROBERT S. lOvETT'S VIEWS
Qualification Of Regulation Is Essential"
A Complete, Harmonious, Consistent
and Related System Needed-FederaI
Incorporation Of Railroads by Gener-
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
I'VE 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
of - ba
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 a country such as ours, for a
people situated as we are, to blunder
along with series of unrelated. incon-
sistent, conflicting statutes enacted by
different states without relation to
each other, instead of providing 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-
lions 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
rot in tn n1r,lr
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
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 CON-
to accept the conclusions of |
their employees as final in deciding |
matters Of great Importance to the |
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. as all other issues between citi-
zens in civilized states are to be set
tied.
Fifth.-The phenomenal increase in
the taxation of railroads in recent |
years.
SiXth.-Tha cumulative effect of
these conditions upon the investing |
public to which railroad companies
must lock for the capital necessary to
on .:lur Development
We believe that the unifcatiOn of