The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-04-05
SITUATION
IS NOW LARGELY
UP TO CONGRESS
Must Share Responsibility In
Future Development.
ROBERT S, lOVETT'S VIEWS


A Complete, Harmonious, Consistent
and Related System Needed-Fedsral
incorporation Of Railroads by Gsnsr-
al Law Favored.
Washington. March 26.-Responsibil.
ity for the railway development Of thA
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 Ncwlands
joint congressional committee when
that body resumed its 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
III 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 1t rests
primarily on congress. When the gov.
ernment 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-
tion systems, except within the limits
of the revenue that can be realized from
such rates and under such restrictions.
For country such as ours, for q
people situated as we are, to bluniler
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 manner as to unduly
reduce revenues. to discriminate in fa.
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 1t un.
| der existing laws, resulting In delay
which should never occur in CONNER.
| cial matters-and compelling the com
| misSiOners 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 tic
up and suspend the operation Of the
railroads Of the country by strikes and
violence and the absence of any law
tn 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.
Fffth.-1'he phenomenal increase iT
| the taxation Of railroads In recent
years.
Sixth.-The cumulative effect oil
these conditions upon the investing
public. to which railroad companies
must look for the capital necessary t.
continue development.
I'VE believe that the unification ol
regulation is essential" said Judge
IOvett. land that with the rapid In
crease Of state commissions In recent
years congress- will In time he com
PEELED to exercise its power in tht
premises. To unity regulation there
should be complete, harmonious, con
sistent and related SYSTEM We bc
lieye the best. IL not the only practica
plan. is the federal incorporation o
railroads by general law. which vii
make incorporation Hereunder com
pulsory, thus imposing on all railroad
companies throughout the United
States the same corporate powers ant
restrictions with respect to their flnan
cial operations and the same dutie.
and obligations to the public and til,
government, so that every investor will
know precisely what every railroad
corporation may and may not lawful!
io.''
Judge Lovett contended that the %
luton of these problems and Difficult
ties rested with congress He told th
committee that under the constitution
the authority OF the federal govern
ment Is paramount, that congress ha
; the power to legislate for a centralize'
. control of railroads under federal char
t,rs and that 1t only remains for tina