Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-06
RADICAL CHANGES
SHOULD Be MADE
IN RAIL METHODS
Commerce Commission OPP
posed to Return to Former
Condition of Operation.
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP
BRINGS MANY PROBLEMS
Process of Valuation Proceeds
Without Interference
From War. Il
DEVELOP INLAND WATERWAYS
Members DO Not Commit Themselves
on Permanent Future
Policy.
DEVELOP INLAND WATERWAY
on Permanent Future
Policy.
lBs Associated Press

bS Associated Press
WASIiiNGTON. December - Re-
cardiess OF whether railroads finally go
back to private management or re-
main in the hands of the government,
radical changes should be made in
their methods AID theories o: opera
ton 10 prosiie a partial merger under
some sort OF government; regulation,
the Interstate Commerce Commission
says in It's annual report. made public
to-day.
The. commission believes the time is
no, ripe TO recommend concrete pro-
posals for legislation relating TO the
iututs pni'cy toward railroads. but says
whatever be the nations decision.
there should be provision for complete
Hn.ficit.oD OF the railways in war time.
partial merger in ordinary ;imes. linz
itation of railway construction to pub
lie necessity and systematic encourage
men, Of the Development OF inland wa
tC-"ays and their coordination with
rail carriers.
III other words. the commission is
opposed to restoration or the old CON
Giiions Of individual competition. in
bS law, and 10 the building OF new
lines without proof to the government
that they arc economically necessary.
II Il Is finally decided TO restore rail
roads to private management. says the
commission. there should be leg isla-
lion 10 permit their cooperation. eman-
financial dictation, sovernmen, rteu-
lation of security issues, clearing the
way OF tho existing twilight zone be-
tween the authority OF State, and Fed
son. efficient use Of equipment and
common use, OF terminals.
On tho Other hand: the poliey Of
cd, the principal questions TO be con.
s.dcred are. The price to be paid for
the. roads: the means Of preventing the
hnf nj all nf
revenue TO the government and also
10 maintain them as self-supportins:
measures to define carefully the re-
tration 10 Congress and other Federal
and state authorities: guarantees
against Intrusion Of partisan politics
into railway management. and crca-
tion Of tribunal 10 settlement of con-
,troversies over railroad matters.
Some sort Of government regulation
tivcs Of future policy which may DO
set forth BY different interests in the
near. future. These alternatives are:
Continuation OF the present system of
government control with private own
,crship. public ownership with private
operation. private operation with gov
completc. private control and owner
ship and complete public ownership
and operation.
REPORT DETAILS EPHEAyAI
OF RAILROAD RELATIONS
The report deals at length with the
upheaval of railroad relations caused
by the war and the governments as
sumption Of operation, and the rela-
tions OF the /:erState Commerce Com
mission TO Director General McAdoo
and the railroad administration. The
commission has co-operated fully with
the government management, says the
report, but the commission still retains
Its authority 10 review rates initiated
by the director general.
a la inn, IL
mission. which viii become of great
Importance in case of government pur-
chase, is proceeding with little inter
ference on account of the war. Safety
work has been assumed partly by the
railroad administration. but educational
work is being continued throughout
last year has made great strides in
seeking to promote uniform rate class
ihcations. and has undertaken a num-
her of other Investigations of rates and
The report. including statement
concerning future policies toward rail-
epsos eps Except Ss George W ". anderson. sh who
recently resigned TO accept another
Federal appointment Others are: Win
; clark. James S. Haylan. Charles c. Nc
chord Balthasar II. Meyer. Henry c.
Hall. Clyde Il. Aitchison and Robert
w Wooley.
The commissions statement on the
future OF the railroads follows:
The conditions without precedent
or parallel, which the war has pro-
duced now press upon tho Congress
matters of the gravcst national and
International concern.
while We do not deem the present
conditions and moment opportune in
which to recommend concrete propo-
sails for legislation. we may indicate
certain lines of inquiry which must be
pursued In order tn reach sound con-
cusons.
mined upon. the fundamental aim or
purpose should be to secure transpor-
iation systems that will be adequate
i for the nations needs even in time Of
national stress or peril and that will
furnish to the public safe. adequate and
I, ef1ic!ent TRANSFORMATION at the lowest
| cost consistent with that service. TO
this end there should be provision for
t1) the prompt merger without fric-
tion OF all the carriers lines, facilities
and organizations into continental
and unified system In time of stress or
ifmits of the carriers lines Id facil-
ities in such part and to such extent
as may be necessary in the general
public interest to meet the reasonable
semands of our domestic and foreign
!. ommercc: (3) limitation of railway
! construction to the necessities and con-
public, and. assuring construction to
The point of these limitations: and (D
development and encouragement of in
land Waterways and CO. ordination OF
among the plans which doubtless will.
le proposed are the following: as
Federal control: t2l public ownership
OF carrier property, with, private
operation under regulation: 90 pr,-
yatc operation under regulation. with
governmental guarantees; "a resump.
tton OF private control and manage
mei,t rntc. regulation. ana t5) public
lnians and notifications or combina-
lions of those enumerated might pc
IStyted.s n sh t.sk
ssSs,If the policy OF private ownershln