The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1917-03-17
Wanted-Sane and Safe
Railway Regulation
System That VIII Be National Business-Eke and COmpre
hensive, Not One That Is Sectional, UncO-
Ordinated and Burdensome
By FRANCIS II. SISSON Assistant Chairman Railway Exec1
tves Advisory Committee

uNCS AQVISC
Nothing is ever really settled until
it is settled right, and no fair-minded
student of the question can h.'"ve
that our present system of I. d
regulation is right. The railroau 10
not, and they want a change. The
public is not satisfied and wants a
change.
1t is hoped that improvement may
follow as result OF the inquiry begun
by the Newlands Joint Committee OF
Congress. President Wilson suggested
this investigation in his message TO
Congress in December, 1915, observing
that the whole governmental railroad
policy ought to be investigated. In
letter to the House floor leader on
March IS, last, he again urged that the
resolution pending for such an inquiry
be passed. Congress assented to this,
and on July 20 the President approved
its action. Four months later this In
vestigation was started but was post
poned after a session Of two weeks, In
order to permit the members OF the
House and Senate conducting this in
quiry to report on the Presidents rail-
road program now being considered by
Congress.
Few as were the sessions Of the Joint
Committee, the railroads through their
counsel, Mr.. Alfred p. Thorn, made a
noteworthy showing and when the
hearings are .esumed the development
Of Mr.. Thom's opening statement will
follow.
No Forty nine Varieties.
All that the railroads want is eff
cient, consistent regulation. With reg
ulation itself they have no quarrel; it
is the accepted order But to the forty
nine varieties, handed out by Congress
and forty-eight States, they have a
positive objection.
They want a system that will be ma
tiOnal, business-like and comprehensive
not one that is sectional, uncO-ordi-
mated and burdensome.
They want system that shall pro
tect their credit and financial integrity
and shall respect the experience, initia-
tive and judgment of their executives.
They want system that shall en-
courage and permit the exercise of
these functions in the lawful operation
and management of their properties,
for the benefit and advantage Of in
Vestor and nation jointly.
They want a system under which
new capital can be readily and reason
ably attracted, for the continuous and
necessary development of our rail
roads, not one which makes investors
hesitant and borrowing excessively
costly.
Practically three-fifths, or 60 millions,
of our people are directly and vitality
interested in the prosperity of our rail
roads.
1t is a basis of income for about 6
million investors, and a source of ac-
tual livelihood for 8 million workers.
An additional ) millions are employed
by industries dependent upon the car
riers; while the security of 80 million
insurance policy-hOlders and IL million
savings bank depositOrs rests largely
on railroad earnings.
The railroads insist that the super
vision of an industry of such tremen-
dous Importance to our national ex-
istence, both social and economic can
not longer be entrusted with safety to
fOrty-nine different rulers, lacking the
essentials of cohesion and cooperation.
Such a system has led to needless
Implications, unfair and selfish discrim-
nations, wasteful litigation, and un-
warranted increases in cost of opera
ton, with but little, If any, improve
ment in service or efficiency.
Such a system has bred endless con-
fusion, because the States are working
at cross-purposes. The resulting tan
gle is beyond the power Of the rail-
roads to unite.
Under it more than 10000 miles of
railroad are row bankrupt, and new
railroad mileage during the year 1915
was the smallest annual addition to
the country total since the civil war
Last years total was only 1893 miles.
Under it needed railroad development
is checked, for the capital requisite for
extensions, betterments and equip
ment is not Forthcoming. This is due
largely to the belief that the prevail
ing rule of 40 masters is a malady en-
bodying within itself possibilities of
disaster.
Under it is the interstate character
of our railroads and of a large per
centage of their traffic is subordinated
to the prejudices and sectional beliefs
of individual States.
Under it States, having no authority
over such matters, and possessing at
best only a tentative right over the
mOiety Of traffic originating and end
ing within their borders, nullify the
commerce clause Of the Constitution by
an assertion of so-called States rights.
Under it State rates have been low
cred almost to the point Of confsca-
ton, and cost " operation Of interstate
carriers has been heavily increased.
These developments are determinations
against the commerce of other States
and against interstate commerce borne
by the carriers il question.
Under it various States give prefer