The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1917-01-18
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEE BEGINS
RAILWAY INQUIRY
Proposed by President TO Bot
tor Condition Of Carriers.
MAY CHANGE PRESENT SYSTEM
oneials Of Roads Prepared to Advocate
Federal Incorporation, Supervision OF
Securities and Extension of Authority
OF Interstate Commerce Commission.

OF Congress, FIVE Senators and five |
members of the House u Representa-
lives, began here today an inquiry into
the subject of public control and SUI
pervision Of railroads that may lead to
the reyoutionizing of the whole scheme
OF governmental regulation of the coun-
try's transportation lines. Incidentally
the committee is to look into the ques-
ton Of government ownership of rail
ways, telephone and telegraph lines
and express companies.
The members of the committee
which will conduct this important In
vestigation are Senator Newlands or
Nevada, chairman; Senators Robinson
Of Arkansas, Underwood of Alabama,
Cummins of Iowa and Brandegee OF
Connecticut, and Representatives Ad-
amson of GeoFga, Sims of Tennessee.
Cullop Of Indiana, Esch of Wisconsin
AMI Hamilton of Michigan. The in
| quiry was recommended by President
Wilson In his message to Congress In
December Of last year. He described
as its purpose to determine what could
be done "for lettering the conditions
under which the railroads are operated
and for making them more useful serv-
ants of the country as a whole"
Prominent Men az Witnesses.
In order TO obtain the views Of all
interests affected by the operations of
the transportation lines the committee
has invited prominent shippers, bank
ers, representatives of commercial or
CARNATIONS, railway executives, econo-
mists and others to appear before them.
The first to be heard are railroad
commissioners of various states who
began their evidence today. Their
testimony Is directed chiefly to oppos-
ing any enlargement of the federal
authority over commerce that would
detract from the powers now exercised
by state bodies. They will be followed
shortly by officials of railway labor
organizations who are expected to reg
lister their opposition to the increase
of governmental authority over wages
and conditions Of labor.
Chief interest In the hearings GEN.
forward by representatives Of the rail-
roads, for 1t is reported that they win
advocate an extension of federal au-
thority over rates and securities to the
practical exclusion Of state control of
these matters 1t is understood also that
they will go on record IN favor Of fed
eral incorporation of all railroad lines.
legislative Program of Railroads.
From an authoritative source Is OBJ
tanned the following outline of the leg
Islative program which the railroads
! will ask the committee to consider In
| It's investigation: They will endeavor
t.. to demonstrate to the commission that
] one Of the principal defects in the pres
= ent system of railroad regulation is
the lack of coordination resulting from
the simultaneous and conflicting regu-
lation by the federal government and
by the 4S states. They will, therefore,
ask that entire governmental control
of the rates and practices of interstate
carriers, except purely local matters,
be placed in the hands of federal
body so that interstate traffic may be
regulated without reference to state
lines leaving to the state commissions
Jurisdiction only over local matters and
local public utilities As part of this
plan, a compulsory system of federal
incorporation is to be recommended,
accompanied by federal supervision of
railroad stock and bond issues.
A reorganization of the Interstate
Commerce Commission will be asked,
in order to enable the commission prop
erly to exercise its increased powers.
1t is also proposed that the preparation
and prosecution of cases against the
railroads shall be delegated to some
= other agency of the government, posi-
, blv the Department of Justice, so that
the commission may devote its ener
pies 70 its administrative functions
) With the commission thus relieved
. OF some of its present duties and equip
ned 70 handle its business more prompt
". the railroads will urge that the pc
,iod during which the commission may
. now suspend proposed increases II
rotes he reduced from ten months tc
go DAYS. with provision for PREPARATION
70 be paid to the shippers If the ad
vance shall be declared unreasonable.
They will also ask that the commis
sion he given the power to prescribe
minimum as well as maximum rates
an that in meeting complaints OF dis
examination the commission may orde
; tho advance of rate which IT consid
!. ers too low.
I: One of the most important recon
: mendations for which the railroad
: will ask favorable consideration l
I that the commission be specihcall'
I authorized TO take into account Il
( rate regulation the effect OF rate
: mon total earnings in the light OF es
I penses. ,.. ,
While the Newlands Committee
{ rsouIred. under the resolution crea'
: ,.g II to submit report by Januar,
I . next It Is not anticipated that Tn
: Committe. viii have come anywher