The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1917-01-05
PLAN TO RESUME
RAILWAY INQUIRY
AFTER MARCH 4TH
Postponement Forced by P rsss
Of Congressional BusInas IS.
COUNTRY DEMANDS ACT ION


mand Unification of System Of Rail-
way Reeulation-Roads Ask Fewer
Masters.
Washington, Dec 1S.-The Congress |
sional Joint Committee on Interstate |
Commerce, which has been conducting |
the inquiry into government regulation
and control of TRANSFORMATION last |
week decided to suspend its hearings
on the subject and adjourned, subject
to the call of the chairman, because of
the pressure of other work before Con-
gress. According to the resolution Gre
ating the committee, 1t is required to
submit report by January 9Th next
II Is understood that before that time
the committee will ask for an exten-
sion of time and that the hearings will
be resumed at later date, when some
Of those who already have appeared
before the committee will be question
ed further and a great many others
will be heard. 1t Is probable, howev-
er that the hearings will not be tesum-
| ed until after adjournment of Congress
on March 4th. In addition to regular
routine business the commerce com
I mittees of the two houses are charged
with the important duty of preparing
and presenting the legislation asked
for by President Wilson to make i'm
possible a railroad strike without pre-
yious investigation. This will leave
little or no time for the consid Grafton
of the general questions of railway
regulation.
Country Wants Something Gone.
Members of Congress and others
who are interested In the inquiry un-
dertaken by the Newlands Con hmttee
insist that there is no intention of
abandoning 1t.
1t seems doubtful. indeed, If the
country would permit the matter to
be dropped II there were evidelce of a
desire on the part of Congress- to do
so. The nationwide evidences of In
terest evoked by the initiation of the
e Newlands inquiry show that the peo
+ pie of the country-shippers, tonsum
ers and investors, as we'll as railway
men themselyes-are alive to the fact
!, that the railway situation is highly un
e satisfactory and that steps must bt
h taken without unnecessary delay t.
make it possible for the railroads t.
meet the growing needs of the nation.
From reports received here It seem
n as though almost every commercial or
ganization and business interest in th
~ country were engaged In studying tn
+ railroad question. The Chamber o
e Commerce of the United States ma
II been conducting an elaborate inquir
Al into various phases OF the SUBJECT 10
many months past. Many local an
state commercial bodies in every pal
= of the country have committees ei
gagged i'm study of the problem an
l. boyo Indicated a desire to come hel
ST ond nrosant their views National o
IN o.u,zat;ons of manufacturers. lumbe
\. men, coal operators, wholesale ana
70 tail dealers, have expressed throhe
resolutions their desire for the uhlnc
7n ton of the system of railway reguI
Is. tion. The National lndustr1ai iran
-. League, speaking from the Yle"Poi
" of shippers using the railways, II
w jndorsed exclusive federal reguiati'
to proyiding 1t is accomplished ln such
.es way as to give full proteetlon al
ar prompt adjustment In matters reia'h
TO transportation within the states.
u ,a+.re.t. Studying Problem.
All these organizations repF Feseht p
marily the shippers of the COZ phtry'
'as they are not the only ones VINO
" q AoI-;,o n hand in the discussion. l.
..,-.ostors of tho nation. through th
IN own associations and througn cohih
tees representing the savings Dahks
els other financial organizations, are
of pairing to show the necessity OF lmpr
ing railroad credit and protecting
.,c,,+s of those whose money is inve
"a In railway securities. Finally
railroads themselves, being yitally e
cerned in the improvement ol exist
our oonditions are manning to submit th
the views, through their execut ives, Oh
ible ating officials and trafhc experts
1T to assert their willingness to accept
reaching federal regulation along II
ucu that will enable them to attract cap
The and to provide the facilities needed
ane the prompt and efficient handling
II q the country's transportation busines
Main Trouble lie Too Many Maste
o.a, Not all of these interests are in
cord as to the remedies that should
adopted. There seems to be gen
tied