The state herald., 1917-01-19

tivee OF All Branches OF busress Dc.
mand unifieation Of System Of Rail.
way RssuIation-Roads Ask Fewer
Masters.
Washington, Dec. 1a-The Congress
sonal 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 ere.
ating the committee. 1t is required to
submit report by January Sth next.
It is understood that before that time
the committee will ask for an exten-
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 a great many others
will be heard. It is probable, howev-
er, that the hearings will not be resum-
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 i'm.
possible railroad strike without pre-
vlous 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 un-
dertaken by the Newlands Committee
insist that there Ia no intention Of
abandoning 1t.
1t seems doubtful. indeed. II the
country would permit the matter to
be dropped II there were evidence Of
desire on the part of Congress to do
no. The nationwide evidences OF In
terest evoked by the initiation OF the
Newlands inquiry show that the peo-
pie of the country-shippers consum.
en-. and investors, NJ well ms raAway
md themselves alive to the fact
that the railway situation is highly un.
satisfactory and that steps must be
taken without unnecessary delay TO
make 1t possible for the railroads to
meet the growing needs of the nation.
From reports received here II seems
as though almost every commercial or
ganization and business interest In the
country were engaged In studying the
| railroad que: tion. 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 co,Ntry have committees EN-.
| gagged IN study OF the problem and
have Indicated desire to come here
and present their views. National or.
ganizations OF manufacturers, lumber
men, coal operators. wholesale and re.
tall dealers. have expressed through
resolutions their desire for the unIfica.
ton OF the system Of railway regula.
tion. The National Industrial Traffic
League. speaking from the viewpoint
Of shippers using the railways. has
indorsed exclusive federal regulation
providing It IL accomplished In such a
way a. to give full protection and
prompt adjustment In 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 arc
taking 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 improv.
ing railroad credit ana protecting the
rights Of those whose money IL invest.
cd In railway securities. Finally the
railroads themselves. being vitality con.
ccrned In tho Improvement Of existing
conditions. are planning TO submit their
views through their executives. oper.
ating officials and traffic experts and
to assert their willingness to accent far.
reaching federal regulation along lines
that will enable them TO attrnct capital
and TO provide the facilities needed for
the prompt md efficient handling of
tho country's transportation business.
Main Trouble 10 Too Many Masters.
Not all Of these interests nrc In nc.
cord ns to the remedies that should be
adopted. There seems to he a general
agreement. however. that many OF tho
difficulties which confront the railroads
md which make Il impossible for them
to meet the requirements OF the m.
lions commerce promptly and sntisfnc.
torily arise from the hnphnzard and
often conflicting measures OF regulation
that hnvcs been adopted from time 10
time by the federal government mud the
forty.cight states and that whnt Ia
needed Is n well ordered, systematic
scheme Of federal regulation TINT shnli
cover the whole country md make II