The record. (Greenville, Ky.) 1899-1???, 1917-01-04
PLAN TO RESUME
RAILWAY INQUIRY
AFTER MARCH 9TH
Postponenent Forced by Press
Of Congressional Business,
COUNTRY DGMLHlS ACTION

70 - ~ - ] ~ St5EEs Es y ~
Shippers, investors and Representa-
tVes Of All Branches OF Business De-
nand unification of System of Rail-
way egulation-Rcads Ask Fewer
Masters.
Washington, Dec. 1S.--The Congress
Siomal Joint Committee on Interstate
Commerce, which has been conducting
the inquiry into government regulation
and control of transportation, 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
atmS the committee, it is required to
submit report by January Sth next
1t is understood that before that time
the committee will ask for an eXtcn-
sion of time and that the hearings will
be resumed at 4 later date, wien some
Of those who already have appeared
before the committee will be question
ed further and q great many others
will be heard. 1t is probable, howev.
er, that tie hearings will not be reSum-
ed until after adjournment of Congress
on March 4th. III addition to regular
routine business the commerce COM
mittceS 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 Il railroad strike without pre-
viOus Investigation. This will leave
little or no time for the consideration
of the general questions of railway
regulation.
Country Wants Something Done.
Members Of Congress and others
who are interested in tie inquiry nn
dertaken by the Ncwlands Committee
insist that there is no intention of
abandoning it.
1t seems doubtful. indeed, if the
country would permit the matter to
DE dropped if there were evidence Of
desire Oh the part of Congress to do
so The nation wide evidences Of in
tcrest evoked by the initiation of the
NeWlands inquiry show that the peO
pie Of the country fy-shippcrs. cGnsum-
crS and investors, as well as railway
men thc!nSelVcS-ar alive to the fact
that the railway situation is highly un-
satisfactory and that steps must be
taken without unnecessary delay to
make it possible for the railroads to
meet the growing needs of the nation.
From reports received here it seems
as though almost every commercial or
ganiZatiOn and business interest in the
country were engaged in studying the
railroad question. The Chamber Of
Commerce of the United States has
been conducting an elaborate inquiry
into various phases of the subject for
many months past Many local and
state commercial bodies i'll every part
Of the country have committees ell
gagged III study of the problem and
have Indicated q desire to come here
and present their views National or
ganiZa tionS Of manufacturers, lumber
men, coal operators. wholesale and re-
tail dealers, have expressed through
resolutions their desire for the unifica-
tion of the system OF railway regtlla-
ton. The National Industrial Traftic
League. speaking from the viewpoint
of shippers using the railways, has
inGOrSCd exclusive federal regulation
providing it is accomplished in such 4
way Us to give full protection and
prompt adjustment in matters relating
to transportation within the states.
Many Interests Studying Problem.
All these organizations represent pri-
mariIy the shippers of the country. but
they are not the Only ones who are
taking a hand in~the discussion The
investors of the nation. through their
own associations and through commit
tees representing the savings banks and
other financial organizations, are pre-
pairing to show the necessity of imnrOv-
ing railroad credit and protecting the
rights of those whose money is invest
cd in railway securities. Finally the
railroads themselves, being vitally con
ccrned i'll the Improvement of existing
| conditions. are planning to submit their
views through their executives. opcr.
| ating officials and traffic experts and
to assert their Willingness to accept far
! reaching federal regulation along lines
| that will enable them to attract caDital
| and to provide the facilities needed for
| the prompt and efficient handling of
the cOuntrys transportation business.
| Main Trouble Is Too Many Masters.
! EOt all Of these interests are in ac
| cord as to the remedies that should be
} adopted. There seems to be a general
! agreement, however, that many of thp
difficulties which confront he railroads
! and which make it Impossible for them
to meet the requirements Of the IA.
/ tons commerce promptly Gnd satisfa"-
t0rily arise from the haphaZard and
often conflicting measures Of regulation
that have been adopted from time to
time by the federal government and the
f0rty-eight states and that what l.;
needed is Il well GrtiUrGd systematic.
a,.heUi; oi jt-!tr;,i regulation rhAt shah
cover the Whole country and AXE ii
possible for the railroads to provide he
extensions and Improved facilities -
badly needed white at the same TIN
protecting f'l!y tHc pu',l;, Interests