Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-12-05
evening EDITION.

railroau except George W. sAnder-
ms. ms u,hn Recently resigned to. accept
sna+her federal appointment others
ane. Winthrop M. Daniels, chairnlan;,
ni5.or =. Clark, James s. Harlan,
CHARLES c. McChord. Baltnasar =.
Never Henry c. Hall, Clyde =. Aitcn-
ison and Robert w. Wooiey. a
f,t,re If the railroads follows: q
The conditions, without precedent
~ narallel. which the wal has pro-.
duced now press upon the onsress
matters of the gravest auon land
International concern. 50 4 .
While we do not deem he present.
,ondjtions and moment opportune In
which to recommend concrete pro
nosals for legislation. we may indicate
Certain lines of inquiry which must DO
nursued in orderfto reach sound COR
illusions. Il
whatever line Of policy is determ-
mod mon. the fundamental aim or
nnrnose should be to secure transpor,
ttotinn systems that will be adequate
for the nations needs even N time
1T national stress or peril and thas
vii, furnish to the public safe. ade.
ouate and efficient transportation az
tfhe lowest cost consistent with that
service. To this end there should be
nrovision for (1) the prompt merger
without friction of all the carr1err
lines, facilities and organizations into
a continental and unified system in
time of stress or emergency; w
merger within proper limits OF the
carriers lines and facilities IN such
part and to such extent as may be
! necessary in the general PUBIC inter
est to meet the r~easonao demands
of orr domestic and foreign com
MERGE: (3) Limitation of railway con-
struction to the necessities and con-
%yenience of the government and OF
the public, and assuring construction
to the point of these limitations; and
t4) development and encouragement
Of inland waterways and coordination
of rail and water transportation sys-
tens.
Among the plans which doubtless
will be proposed are the following:
C) Continuance of the present plan
of federal control; (2) public owner
ship of carrier property with private
operation under regulation; 60 priv
ate operation under regulation with
governmental guarantees; 90 re-
sumption of private control and man
agement under regulation; and go
public ownership and operation. Adj
ditional plans and notifications or
combinations of those enumerated
might be listed.
If the policy of private ownership
and operation under regulation is
continued, the following subjects will
require legislative considerations: (1)
+ Revision Of limitations upon united
or cooperative activities among COM
. mon carriers by rail or by water; ca
] emancipation Of railway operation
from financial dictation;. (3) regula-
ton of issues of securities: (4) estab-
3 lishment of a relationship between
: federal and state authority which will
4 eliminate the twilight zone of jurisdic-
;. ton and under which a harmonious
rate structure and adequate service
g can be secured, state and interstate;
. 60 restrictions governing the treat
! ment Of competitive as compared witt
y non-competitive traffic; CO.. the mos
e efficient utilization of equipment ant
;, provision for distributing the burden
of furnishing equipment on an equit
able basis among the respective car
inal facilities in the interest Of FIRE,
movement of commerce.; and 6,
limitations within which common
carrier facilities and services may b,
n furnished by shippers or receivers O
freight.
" Should the policy Of public owner
It ship and operation be adopted, ther
must be considered: (1) The jus
and fair price at which. and the term
under which, carrier properties are t
be acquired; (2) prohibiting the oper
alton of railways as a fiscal con
n trivance, insuring their administra
It ton in the interests Of the conven!
g ence and commerce Of the people, re
y curing that they shall be self-suI
porting, and that their rates shall b
i properly related to the ascertaine
d cost of service, and retaining and e1
tending the economies and advantage
of large scale production in transpol
tation; CD responsibility and relation
e ship of the railway administration I
u congress and other federal authorize
g and to the states; a. guardin
y against the intrusion of party polite
into railway management; (5)
status for railway officers and en-
ployes under which the railway ser,
Al ice will attract and retain the be!
- talent; and CO. maintenance of
- tribunal for the determination {
controversies which will inevitabl
If arise even under public operation.
n above outline is a mere enun
GRAFTON Of some important points
l. be considered. We will at an apprc
l. pirate time report to congress sue
re information, suggestions or recon
le mendatlons as we believe may be {
assistance in solving the many an
dllncuIt transportation problems.