Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1917-02-01
PLAN TO RESUME
RAILWAY INQUIRY
after MARCH 4TA
Ptstponemsnt Forced BY Press
Of Congressional Business.
COUNTRY DEMANDS ACTION

shippers, Investors and Representa-
tivss Of Al Branches Of Business Dc,
mand unikeation Of System Of Rad,
way Rsauiation-Roads Ask Fs~s,
Masters.
Washington. Dee, lS.-The Congress
aional Joint Committee on Interstate
Commerce. which has been conducting
the inquiry into government reguistio,
II control OF transportation. las,
/ week decided To suspend its hearings
on the subject and adjourned. subject
to the call OF the chairman. because ut
the pressure OF other work before Con
gress. According to the resolution ere
ating the committee, Ii Is required Ia
Submit.a report by January Sth next.
1t is hnderstood that before that time
the committee win ask for an exten,
sion of time and that the hearings will
be resumed at a 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,
rr. that the hearings will not be resum
ed until after adjournment OF Congress
on March 9Th. In addition to regular
routine busineSs the III com
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-,
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 the inquiry uii.
dertaken by the Newlands COMMITTEES
insist thar there is no intention Of
Abandoning ii.
Ii seems doubtful. indeed. II the
country would permit the matter 70
te dropped II there were evidence Of u
desire on the part Of Congress to d"
50. The nationwide evidences Of In
terest evoked by the Initiation Of the
Newlands inquiry show that the pe",
pie Of the country-shippers. conSum-
ers and investors. as we'll as railwa,
men themselves-are alive to the fscl
that the railway situation is highly Ill
satisfactory and that steps must be
taken without unnecessary delay t.
make 1t possible for the railroads t.
meet the growing needs Of the nation.
From reports received here 1t seems
as though almost every commercial or.
ganization aud business interest In the
country were engaged In studying the
railroad question. The Chamber or
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 In every part
Of the country have committees ell.
gagged in study Of the problem and
have indicated a desire to come here
ganiza lions Of manufacturers, lumber
men, coal operators. wholesale and re-
tail dealers. have expressed through
resolutions their desire for the unihca.
tion Of the system Of railway regula.
ton. The National Industrial Traffic
League. speaking from the viewpoint
Of shippers using the railways, has
Endorsed exclusive federal regulation
providing 1t is accomplished In such a
way as to give full protection and
prompt adjustment III matters relating
to transportation within the states.
Many Interests Studying Problem.
All these organizations represent pri-
marily 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.
tee representing the savings banks and
other financial organizations. are pre-
pairing to show the necessity Of improy.
Ing railroad credit and protecting the
rights Of those whose money Is invest.
ed In railway securities. Finally the
railroads themselves. being vitality con.
cerned I'm the improvement OF existing
conditions, are planning to submit their
views through their executives, oper.
ating officials and traffic ex perts and
to assert their willingness to accept far
reaching federal regulation along lines
that will enable them to attract capital
and to provide the facilities needed for
the prompt and efficient handling of
the country's transportation business.
Main Trouble 10 Too Many Masters.
Not eli OF these interests are in &C.
cord as to the remedies that should be
adopted. There seems TO be q general
agreement. however. that many Of the
which confront the railroads
and which make 1t impossible for them
to meet the requirements Of the ma.
tons commerce promptly and satisfac.
tOrily arise from the ~hashazard and
often conflicting measures Of regulation
that have been adopted from time to
time by the federal government and the
forty eight states aud that what IS
ia q well ordered. systematic
Of federal regulation that shall
cover the whole country and make 1t |
possible for the railroads to provide the
extensions and improved facilities 80
badly needed. while at the same time
fully the public interests.