Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-06
Interstate Commissions
|. Recommendations Meet
Quick Response in Congress

: Splution of the transportation prob
1ezn in the United States was squarely
before the President and Congress to-
day as the result OF the special report
Of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion yesterday recommending imme-
lfate national uniication Of all rail-
roads. either by government operation
or by suspension of the antitrust laws
AL a federal loan.
Yhe report yesterday-the commits
SONS first special report in years to
HIM. But 1T met an immediate response
tnboth the Senate and in the House.
: senator Newlands. chairman of the
spocfal congressional railroad investi-
1nferstate commerce committee. ar
ragged conference with President
W41son for next Monday to receive ex-
sc4fiye recommendations.
> Neither of the plans suggested was
specifically Endorsed. but an implica-
fiqn that the majority believed the
raflroads might successfully work out
their own untfication prompted Com
missioner McChord to submit a sepa-
Sate report emphatically urging gov
ernment control and saying "the strong
arm of government authority is essen
tia1 II the transportation situation is
tosSbe radically improved" Any vol
sintary pooling plan would fail to meet
%4r eXtgencies he declared. because
pfs&he unavoidable influence of selfish
neos among roads
Must Lessen Competition.
the proposition that competition among
railroads must be diminished, il not
altogether eliminated. to prevent
serious breakdown of transportation
Facilities under the wars strain.
: The railroads own proposed solution
FOR the dificulties-an increase in
rates in order to attract capital-was
characterized as entirely inadequate by
the commission. Even with more funds.
the report said, the shortage of equip-
tnent could not be remedied materially
because of the inability of industries
20 manufacture it. Doubt also was
would be attracted. in view of the 10
sation of such enormous quantities of
governn1ent war securities.
These considerations led the commits
zion to what 1t considered an inevita-
BILE conclusion-that high state Of ef-
fciency could be maintained for the
railroads only by thorough co-opera-
tion. elimination of dupiication of
routes and other elements of expense
and energy. ard elimination of the eco
sionlic waste " hich comes from compe-
Sition. This would mean. 1t was point
sed out. a complete reconstruction OF
The policies under which railroads have
beer developed.
IN the alternative OF government
Operation under the direction or the
president be adopted. said the COM
Emission, suitable guaranty OF an ade-
.quatei annual return should be given
with provision by which the roads could
eeimburs the government for improve
lnents after the properties are returned
sto private owners
Thezonly hint of the commissions at
sti.ude toward the railroads pending
-apPiicatiOn for Is per cent higher rates
-ras given in an assertion that the
sroads are entitled to demand just and
SreasonaSIe rates sufficient to yield
sSair returns. and the comment that al
Though railway earnings in the past
tyear have broken all records. the pur.
.ehasing power OF the earnings is great
sly decreased.