The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1917-03-29
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"Unisssstisa q Requisites 70 Gsssstisl."
A cs~aeisas, Hsrassaisvs. csasis>sat
and RsisAsd sysas~ Mssdsd-Ssdseai
isssspsrstisa ss RsiirssAs BY os~ss.
si Law Favessd.
Washington. March 26.-Rsspousibil-
ity for the railway developuent Of the
country. for providing necessary trans
portation facilities to care for the grow.
ing business and population Of tho
country. now rests largely yjth Con.
gress and not entirely with the rail-
road managers. This was the state
ment Of Judge Robert Q. Lovett, chair
man OF the executive cosnmitteo Of the
Union Pacific system. to the Nswlands
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
In mind the decision of the supreme
court on the Adamson law. handed
down last week, which establishes the
right Of the federal government to fx
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.
I'VE 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-
ton systems, except within the limits
Of the revenue that can be realized from
such rates and under such restrictions.
For a country such as ours, for q
people situated as We are, to blunder
along with a series of unrelated, incon-
sistent, conflicting statutes enacted hy
different states without relation to
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 rcgula-
tions 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 Il manner as to mduly
reduce revenues, to discriminate in fa-
vor Of localities and shippers within
its own borders us against localities
and shippers in other states and to dis
Interstate rates.
Third.-The inability OF the Inter
state Commerce Commission, whoever
the commissioners may be. to perform
the vast duties devOlving upon it un-
der existing laws, resulting IN delay
Which should never occur i'll CONNER
cial matters-anl 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.
Fourtl.-Tlie practical legality that
has been accorded cOnspiracics to tie
up and suspend tie operation of the
| railroads Of the country by strikes and
violence and the absence of any law
to compel the settlement of such dis
putcs by arbitration or other judicial
means, as all other issues between citi-
zens in civilized $, tcs are to be set
fled.
| Fifth.-The phenomenal increase In
the taxation of railroads in recent
| years.
Sixth.-Thc cumulative effect of
these conditions upon the investing
public. to which railroSl companies
must look for the capiiA necessary to
continue development.
I'VE believe that the nnificaton Of
| regulation is essential said Judge
| L.ovett. "and that with the rapid in
crease of state commissions in recent
years congress will in time he COM
PEELED to exercise its power in the
premises. To unity regulation there
should he complete, harmonious. con-
sfstent and related system We be-
lieve the best, II not the only practical
plan, is the federal incorporation of
railroads by general law. which will
make incorporation Hereunder com
pulsory, thus imposing on all railroad
companies throughout the United
States the same corporate powers and
restrictions with respect to their iiman-
cial operations and the same duties
and obligations to the public and the
government, so that every investor Will
know precisely what every railroad
corporation may and may not lawfully
do
Judge Yoycft contcnlc,l that the so.