New-York tribune., 1918-12-06

countrv. The commission in the last
wear has made great strides in seeking
to promote uniform rate casslheatlons
and has undertaken a number OIL other
of rates and practces'
The report including the stationery
future policies toward rail-
roads. is signed by all the commission
crs except George W. Anderson, VINO
recently resigned to accept another
Federal appointment. others =, are.
Winthrop NJ. Daniels, chairman; Edgar
f. Clark, James S. Harlan, Charles =.
McChord, Balthasar II. Meyer, Henry Z.
Hall. CLYDE b. Aitchison and Robert W.
Wooley. A..
The commissions statement on the
future of the railroads follows;
Future of the Railroads
"The conditions, without precedent
or parallel, which the war has pro
duced now press upon the Congress
matters of the grnvest national ana IN
tcrnational concern.
"Whilc we do not deem the present
conditions and moment opportune III
which to recommend concrete propo-
sails for legislation, we may indicate
certain lines of inquiry which must DC
pursued in order to reach sound con-
clusions.
"Whatever line of policy is deter
mined upon. the fundamental aim OF
purpose should be to secure transporta'
, ton systems that will be adequate fol
the nations needs even in time OF ma
tional stress or peril. and that viii
furnish to the public safe, adequate
and efficient transportation at the low
est cost consistent with that service
To this end there should be provision
for CD the prompt merger wlthoui
friction of all the carriers lines, tacil
tiles and organizations into contlnen
tai and unified system in time OF stres!
or emergency, CD merger within
proper limits of the carriers lines ant
facilities in such part and to such ex
tent as may be necessary in the gen
eral public interest to meet the rea
sonable demands of our domestic ant
foreign commerce; CD limitation o
railway construction to the necessi
ties and convenience of the government
and of the public, and assuring con
struction TO the point of these limita
tions, and (N development and en-
couragement of inland waterways an
coordination Of rail and water trans
pOrtation systems.
Five Possible Plans
"Among the plans which doubtles
will be proposed are the following
CD Continuance of the present plan Q
Federal control, CD public ownershi
of carrier property with private or
GRAFTON under regulation, (3) privat
operation under regulation with go,
ernmental guarantees, (4) rcsumptio
of private control and managemer
under regulation, and CD public owl
ershp and operation. Additional plar
and notifications or combinations {
those enumerated must be listed.
eff the policy of private owncrshl
and operation under regulation is col
tinued the following subjects will r'
quire legislative consideration: CD RI
vision of limitations upon united or CT
operative activities among commo
carriers by rail or by water; (2) emal
clpation of railway operation fro
financial dictation; CD regulation
issues of securities; (4) cstablishmel
of relationship between Federal al
, state authority which will climina
the twilight zone or jurisdiction az
, under which 4 harmonious rate struc
urc and adequate service can be S
! cured. state and interstate (5) L
strictions governing the treatment
competitive as compared with non-cor
petitive traffic; CD the most efficie
= utilization of equipment and provisi'
t for distributing the burden of furnis
= ing equipment on an equitable bas
= among the respective carriers; CD
Y more liberal use of terminal faciliti
e in the interest of free movement
II commerce, and (S) limitations with
e which common carrier facilities a