Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1918-11-23
SHAUGHNESSY FOR
STATE R. R. CONTROL

Inc importance OF preserving the
dignity and the. sovereign power OF
the various state governments OF our
nation, the urgent necessity OF the PEG
pie taking steps to prevent their fund
amental right of local self-government
from encroachment and usurpation by
the large financial Industrial and rail-
way interests is emphasized and made
clear by an appeal which Commits
sioner ]. F. Shaughnessy has placed
before the National Association of
Railway Commissioner which is now
meeting in annual conference at
Washington, d. c. The article in
question follows:
Gentlemen: | regret that | am
unable to be present for the annual
meeting OF the association, but owing
to the death of Hon. H. F. Bartine,
the chairman OF Our commission, on
August b. 1918, it is impossible for
me to be absent from the state at this
time.
"As the war is drawing to a close
and the reconstruction period is rap
idly approaching | sincerely trust that
the association will make provisions
for the protection of the state COM
missions and legislatures-in fact the
sovereign power of the various states
This is the issue of paramount import
ance and should, in my view, have
right-of-way over every other ques-
ton that will be presented for CON
sideration by the association
The railways and large industrial
and banking interests have, in the
past and are today, contributing large
ly toward the Capitalization of oppor-
tunity, population, industry and
wealth at comparatively few rate-fa-
vored points to the exclusion of the
great producing sections of the coun-
try, and also the Capitalization OF the
power of regulation in the hands OF
federal tribunals to the exclusion of,
or rather in most instances, to the
disruption and annulment OF the rate
regulations which have been prescrib-
ed by state legislatures and commits
sions.
Following the close of the war the
aforesaid interests will be ready with
a program OF legislation to make
stronger and more effective their eff
forts in this behalf. Strong and con-
certed action by our association act
ing collectively and by each commits
sion acting individually within their
respective states for the information
and education of the public is vitality
necessary, If the activities of these in
terests are to be forestalled.
"In this behalf we are sadly lack
ing in the matter OF publicity on the
state side OF the question, whereas the
railway industrial and financial inter
ests Of the country have their side
of the question ably presented before
the public through the medium OF the
newspapers and magazines at all
times. This advertising propaganda,
as all will remember. was insidious
prior to the taking over OF the rail
ways by the government and doubt
less will again become so following
the close of the war 1t is highly
important therefore that provisions
should be made by which our able
war committee may be authorized to
establish a publicity department and
to employ expert newspaper and mag
azine writer's. to intellgently and fre-
ouently cover the question OF states
rights and to offset misleading rail-
way propaganda for the information
OF the public, which understands hard
" at all the merits OF the railway
question.
"In connection with what is said
above regarding the pre-war actiyit-
les of the railway and financial inter-
ests it is interesting to note that the
Wall Street bankers are still carrying
forward their anti-railroad commits
sion propaganda and at the same time
endeayorinq TO keep from censure any
and ali shortcomings for which the
railways may HhNN bNSll ANoFtAA1ithN
in the past. refer to an excerpt
from one of the many phamphlets
published in July, 1918, by Louis f.
Pierson. Chairman Of the Board Of
the Irving National Bank Of New
York City wherein he said:
as it imaginable that the freight
congestion, which we in New York
are so familiar and which has so i'm
peded the progress OF business in all
parts of the country and even the
progress of the war, would have ex-
isted if during recent years the facili-
ties concerned had been allowed to
operate and develop under normal
business conditions?
Government, expressed either in
commissions or otherwise, appears to
have been Jealous in protecting rates
to deprive the railroads and related
facilities OF the income absolutely nee
essary in making the business show