The Topeka state journal., 1918-12-06
|. C. C. IS HEARD
Recommendations Made on
Handling of Railroads.
The Commission Deals in Re.
port With Its Activities.

Washington, Dec. 6.-Congress to-
day was provided with the views Of
the interstate commerce commission
as to what problems must be con-
sidered in deciding the future of the
railroad lines.
In it's annual report, the commission
sets forth, in detail, what it believes
to be certain lines of inquiry which
must be persuaded to reach sound
conclusions" 1t deals thoroly with
both government control and private
ownership with the varied forms Of
each. The section of the report setting
forth the commissions ideas follows:
Adequate Systems Needed.
Whatever line of policy is de-
termined upon the fundamental aim
should be to secure transportation
systems that will be adequate for the
nations needs even in time OF ma
tional stress and that will furnish to
the public safe, adequate and efficient
transportation at the lowest cost. To
this end, there should be provision
for the prompt merger without fr1c-
ton of all lines into continental and
unified system in time of emergency;
merger within proper limits of the
carriers lines and facilities in such
part and to such extent as may be
necessary to meet the reasonable de-
mandS of our domestic and foreign
commerce; limitation of railway con-
struotion to the necessities and con-
venience of the public, and assuring
construction to the point of ti,ese
limitations; and development and en-
couragement of inland waterways and
coordination of rail and water trans
pOrtation systems.
Among the plans which doubtless
will be proposed are the following:
Continue the Control.
Continuance of the present plan
of federal control; public ownership
of carrier property with private oper-
alton under regulations; private oper-
alton under regulation with govern
mental guarantees; resumption of
private control and management un-
der regulation, and public ownership
If the policy of private ownership
and operation under regulation is con-
tinued, the following subjects will re-
Quire legislative consideration:
Revision of limitations upon united
or cooperative activities; emancipa-
tion of railway operation from finan-
cial dictation; regulation of issues or
securities; establishment of a relation
ship between federal and state author
ity which will eliminate the twilight
zone of jurisdiction; restrictions gov
erning the treatment of competitive as
compared with non-competitive traf-
fic. the most efficient utilization OF
equipment and provision for distrib-
uting the burden of furnishing equip
ment on an equitable basis among the
respective carriers; a more liberal use
of terminal facilities in the interest of
free movement of commerce and lim1-
tations within which common carrier
facilities and services may be furnish
ed by shippers and receivers of freight.
After Public Ownership.
Should the policy of public owner
ship and operation be adopted there
must be considered:
The just and fair price at which,
and the terms under which, carrier
properties are to be acquired; prohib-
iting the operation of railways as
fiscal contrivance, insuring their ad-
ministration in the interests of the
convenience and the commerce of the
people, requiring that they shall be
self-supporting and that their rates
shall be properly related to the ascer-
tanned cost and service and retaining
and extending the economies and ad-
vantages of large scale producing in
transportation; responsibility and re-
lationship of the railway administra-
ton to congress and other federal
authorities and to the states; guard
ing against the intrusion of party poll
tics into railway services will attract
and retain the best talent; and main
tenance of a tribunal for the deter
mination of controversies that will in
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