The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1917-01-05
PLAN TO RESUME
RAILWAY INQUIRY
/ AFTER MARCH 4TH
POSfpOnement Forced by Press
Of Congressional Business.
COUNTRY DEMANDS ACTION

Shippers, Investors and Representa-
tives of All Branches of Business De-
mand Unification of System of Rail-
way eguIation-Roads Ask Fewer
Masters.
Washington, Dec 1S.-The Congress
BiOnal 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
7ting the committee, it is required to
submit report by January 9Th next
1t Is understood that before that time
the committee will ask for an extern
sion of time and that the hearings will
be resumed at later date, when some
of those who already have appeared
before the committee will be question
ed further and great many others
will be heard. 1t is probable, howev-
ed until after adjournment of Congress
on March 4th. In addition to regular
routine business the commerce 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 inn
possible 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 I'M
dertaken by the Newlands Committee
insist that there is no intention of
abandoning it.
1t seems doubtful, indeed. if the
country would permit the matter to
be dropped if there were evidence of a
desire on the part of Congress to do
so. The nation wide evidences of in
terest evoked by the initiation of the
Newlands inquiry show that the peo-
pie of the shippers, consum- |
men themselves-are alive to the fact |
that the railway situation is highly I'M |
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 in every part
of the country have committees en-
gagged in study of the problem and
have indicated a desire to come here
lions Of manufacturers, lumber
men, coal operators, wholesale and re-
tail dealers, have expressed through
their desire for the unifica- 5
ton OF the system OF railway regula- {
hon. The. National Industrial Traffic .
League, speaking from the viewpoint
of shippers using the railways, has
exclusive federal regulation
providing it is accomplished i'll such a l.
way as to give full protection and {
prompt adjustment in matters relating
20 transportation within the states. I
Many Interests Studying Problem.
All these organizations represent pri-
I,;n ~, |
hey are not the only ones who are
aking a hand in the discussion. The
INVESTORS of the nation. through their
'wn associations and through commit
ees representing the savings banks and
Their financial organizations, are pre-
airing to show the necessity Of improy-
ng railroad credit and protecting the
lights of those whose money is invest
d In railway securities. Finally the
lilroads themselves. being vitality con-
erned in the improvement of existing
,nditiOns, are planning to submit their
Jews through their executives, oper-
ing officials and traffic experts and
assert their willingness to accept far
aching federal regulation along lines
dL Will cudOic lhtlH W capital
I'd to provide the facilities needed for
e prompt and efficient handling of
e country's transportation business.
Main Trouble Is Too Many Masters.
Not all of these interests are in ac-
I'd as to the remedies that should be
Opted. There seems to be a general
reement, however. that many of the
f1culties which confront the railroads
d which make it impossible for them
meet the requirements of the ma
ms commerce promptly and satisfac-
lilly arise from the haphazard and
ZEN conflicting measures of regulation
at have been adopted from time to
ne by the federal government and the
-ty-eight states and that what Is
eded is a well ordered systematic
leme of federal regulation that shall
yer the whole country and make it
ssible for the railroads to provide the
,ensions and improved facilities so
lily needed, while at the same time
tecting fully the public interests.