The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-08-31
RAILROAD, SITUATION
is NOW LARGELY
UP 10 CONGRESS
Must Share Responsibility In
Future Development. =
ROBERT S. LOVETTS VIEWS

"Unification Of Regulation Is Essential
A Complete, Harmonious, Consistent
and Related System Needed-Federa
Incorporation of Railroads by Gener.
al Law Favored.
Washington, March 2G.-Responsibil.
ity for the railway development of the
country, for providing necessary trans
portation facilities to care for the grow
ing business and population of the
country, now rests largely with CON
Sress and not entirely with the rail
road managers. This was the state
ment Of Judge Robert S. LOvett, chair
man of the executive committee of the
Union Pacific system. to the Newlands
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 fix
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
tty," said Judge Lovett, "but it rests
primarily on congress. When the gov
eminent 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
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
people situated as we are, to, blunder
along with Il series of unrelated, incon.
sistent, conflicting statutes enacted by
different states without relation to
each other, instead of providing COM
plete and carefully studied and pre-
pared system of regulation for a bust
ness that is so vital to the life Of tho
nation, is worse than folly"
He summed up the present problems
and difficulties of the railroads as fol-
lows:
Eirst.-The multiplicity of regula-
lions by the several states with respect
to the issue of securities, involving de-
lays and conflicting state policies gen
orally dangerous and possibly disas-
-rous.
Second.-The state regulation of
rates In such a manner as to unduly
reduce revenues, to discriminate in ia
7or Of localities and shippers within
It's own borders as against localities
md shippers in other states and to dis
,urb and disarrange the structure of
rates.
Third.-The inability Of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission, whoever
he commissioners may be, to perform
he vast duties devolving upon it I'M
Ter existing laws, resulting in delay
which should never occur in CONNER
'ial matters-and compelling the COM
nissioners to accept the conclusions Of
heir employees as final in deciding
matters of great importance to the
commercial and railroad interests of
he country.
Fourth.-The practical legality that
las been accorded conspiracies to tie
Up and suspend the operation of the
ailroads of the country by strikes and
'iolence and the absence Of any law
o compel the settlement of such dis !
'utes by arbitration or other judicial
means, as all other issues between citi- |
ems in civilized states are to be set
led.
F'ifth.-The phenomenal increase in