Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-12-05
MERGE RAILWAYS,
URGES Commission
IN ANNUAL REPORT
INTERSTATE COMMERCE COM.
MISSION ADVOCATES THE DE-
VElOPMENT OF INLAND WAT.
ERWAYS.

In dealing with the question of what
may be done with the railroads in the
future the Interstate Commerce Com.
mission in its annual report to Con
gress says:
The conditions, without precedent
or parallel, whi-h the var has pro
duced now press upon the Congress
matters of the grayest nation,.l and
international concern.
while We do not deem the present
conditions and moment oppOrtune in
which to recommend concrete pro
posals for legislation, We may indicate
certain lines of inquiry which must
be pursued in order to reach sound
conclusions
Whatever line of policy is deter
mined upon, the fundamental aim OF
purpose should be to secure trans.
portation systems that will be ade-
Hiitp AOl hAlC ItiiibAl . iitNho tNtA III
time of national stress or peril and
that will furnish to the public safe,
adequate and efficient transportation
at the lowest cost consistent with that
service. To this end there should be
provision for (D the prompt merger
without friction Of al the carriers
lines, facilities and organizations in.o
a continental and unified system in
time OF stress or emergency; t2) mer
ger within proper limits of the car
riers lines and facilities in such part
| and to such extent as may be neces
sary in the general public interest &C
meet the reasonable demands Of oui
domestic and foreign commerce; go
| limitation of railway construction to
! the necessities and convenience Of the
government and of the public and as
! suring construction to the point OF
these limitations; and (D develop
|, ment and encouragement of inland
waterways and coordination of raj
and water transportation systems.
Among the plans which doubtless
will be proposed are the following
Cd Continuance Of the present plan
of federal control; (2) public owner
ship OF carrier property with private
operation under regulation; CD pri
yate operation under regulation witl
governmental guarantees; (4) resump
ton OF private control and manage
ment under regulation; and 90 pub
lie ownership and operation Add
tional plans and notifications or com
bnations fthose enumerated Nigh
bo listed
IF the policy of private oWnershii
and operation under regulation is con
tinued, the following subjects will re
quire legislative consideration e
Revision of limitations upon unite,
or cooperative activities among com
mon carriers by rail or by water, (2
emancipation of railway operation
from financial dictation; CD reguls
ton OF issues Of securities; (4) estal
lishment of a relationship betWee
federal and state authority which wi
eliminate the twilight zone Of jurisdi,
ton and under which a harmoniCu
rate structure and adequate seryic
can be secured, state and interstate
)o) restrictions governing the trea
ment OF competitive as compared wit
noncompetitive traffic; co the mo,
! efficient utilization Of equipment an
! provision for distributing the burde
OF furnishing equipment on an ecu
= table basis among the respective ca
riers; CO more liberal use OF tern
nal facilities in the interest of frt
y movement of commerce; and (S) lin
tations within which common carrie
facilities and services may be FIJI
y nished by shippers or receivers
{ freight.
= Should the policy of public own,
" ship and operation be adopted, the
. must be considered 1) The ju
and fair price at which and the teri
under which carried properties are
be acquired GU prohibiting the opel
tion of railways as a fiscal contriyan,
insuring their administration in t
Interests OF the convenience and co
- merce of the people, requiring II
| they shall be sef.supporting, and Il
their rates shall be properly relat
to the aseertained cost of service, a
~ retaining and extending the econom
~ and advantages of large scale D
~ duction in transportation; t3)
Vi sponsiblity and relationship of
sr railway administration to Congr
no and other federal authorities and
20 the states: (i) guarding against
yer intrusion of party politics into +
he way management; t5l status
ng railway officers and employees un
which the railway service will attr