The Cordova daily times. [volume] (Cordova, Alaska) 1914-1947, 1918-12-09
'ADOO DEALS
WITH FUTURE
OF RAILWAYS

| w AoiliNh ittN, Zee. -fttBafHleSS
or whether railroads finally go back
to private management or remain in
the hands of the government, radical
changes should be made in their meth
DDS and theories of operation to pro
vide partial merger under some sort
Of government regulation, the Inter
state Commerce commission says in
its annual report made public today.
The commission believes the time is
not ripe to recommend concrete pro.
| posals for legislation relating to the
future policy toward railroads, but
says whatever be the nations decision
| there should be provision for com.
plete unifcation of the railways in
war time. partial merger in ordinary
times, limitation of railway construc-
ton to public necessity, and system
attic encouragement of the develop.
| ment of inland waterways. and their
coordination with rail carriers
In other words. the commission is
opposed to restoration of the old con
ditions of individual competition, in
which pooling OF traffic was forbidden
by law, and to the building of new
lines without proof to the government
/ that they are economically necessary.
| If it is finally decided to restore
railroads to private management. says
the commission. there should be legis-
lation to permit their cooperation.
emancipation of railway operation
| from financial dictation, government
regulation of security issues; clearing
away of the existing twilight zone
between the authority of state and
| federal authorities in railroad super
vision. efficient use of equipment and
common use Of terminals.
On the other hand. if the policy of
government ownership should be fin
to be considered are: The price to
be paid for the roads; means of pre-
venting the railroads from being made
sources of revenue to the government.
and also to maintain them as selfsup-
| porting, measures to define carefully
the responsibility of the railway ad-
Imnistration into congress and other
/ federal and state authorities; guar
antees against intrusion of partisan
politics into railway management, and
creation of a tribunal to settle con
! trpuAri III
| Some sort of government regula-
ton is suggested by the commission
in connection with each OF the fire
alternatives of future policy which
may be set forth by different interests
in the near future. These alternatives
are: Continuation of the present sys-
TEN of government control with pri.
waite ownership, public ownership with
private operation. private operation
with government regulation and guar
antees, complete control and owner.
ship and complete public ownership
and operation.
The report deals at length with the
upheayal of railroad relations caused
by the war and the governments as
sumption of operation. and the rela-
tons of the Interstate 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 re-
tains its authority to review rates
| initiated by the director-general.
Railroad valuation work of the com
mission, which will become of great
Importance in case Of government pur
chase, is proceeding with little inter
work has been assumed partly by the
railroad administration. but educa-
tiOnal work is being continued over
the country. The commission in the
| last year has made great strides in
seeking to promote uniform rate Cl2ss-
| itiCations, and has undertaken a num-
! Der OF other Investigations of rates
and practices.
The report, including the statement
concerning future policies toward rail
roads, is signed by all the commits
sioners, except George w. Anderson,
who recently resigned to accept an
other federal appointment. Others are
Winthrop NJ. Daniels, chairman; Ed
gar +. Clark. James S. Harlan. Charles
I MaTh~rI n,I
c. Hall. Clyde B. Aitchison, and Robert
| w. Wooley