Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-12-08

1 are; Winthrop NJ. Daniels. chair i man; Edgar F. Clark, James g. Har-
 Ian. Charles C. McChord. Balthasar 1 II. Meyer. Henry C. lan. Clyde F.
 Aitchison and Robert W. Wooiev.
 The Commissions statement on the future of the railr0ad5 folloNE no0ntirrlhmt mh nlh Th nh mlrnmm The conditions, without pferrten or parallel, which the war has pro- duced, now press upon the Congress
 matters of the graves national and international concern
 While we do not deem the pro- sent conditions and moment oppor- tune in which to recommend con crete proposals for legislation, we
 may indicate certain lines of inquiry
 which must be pursued in order 10
 reach sound conclusions:
 Whatever line Of policy is de-
 termined upon, the fundamental aim
 or purpose should be to secure trans
 portation systems that will be aGe-
 Huate for the nation 8 needs even in
 time of national stress or peril and
 that will furnish to the ppblic safe.
 adequate, and efficient transporta~
 ton al the loves cost con sistent
 with that service. Tho this end there
 should be prOvisioll for CD the
 prompt merger without friction of
 all the carriers lines. facilities. and
 organizations into a continental and
 unified system in time of Stress or
 emergency; (2) mer@er within pro
 per limits of carriers lines and faci-
 lities in such part and to such extent
 as may be necessary in the general
 public interest to meet the reason
 able demands of our domestic and
 foreign commerce; t2) limitation of railways construction t0 the necessi-
 ties and convenience of the govern
 ment and of the public, and assuring
 construction to the point of these
 limitations; and (4) development and encouragement finland waterways transportation systems
 Among the plans which doubtless will be proposed are the following. CD Continuance of the present plan of federal control; @ public own- ership of carrier property with pri- vate operation under regulation; ((3) | private operation under regulation. with governmental guarantees: tf) resumption of private control and management under regulations; and 1 ((5) public ownership and operation. ! Additional plans and notifications or 1! combinations of those enumerated | might be listed
 If the policy of private ownership i and operation under regulation is | continued, the following subjects | will require legislative consideration i t1) Revision of limitations upon uni ted or cooperative activities among common carriers by rail or by Wa ter; (2) emancipation of railway Op- eration from financial dctation; (3) regulation of issues of securities
 4) establishment of relationship 1 between Federal and state authority which will eliminate the twilight zone of jurisdiction and under which a harmonious rate structure and ada- quate service can be secured. state and interstate; (3) restrictions gov erning the treatment of competitive as compared with non- competitive tarftic; (6) the most efficient utiliza- ton of equipment and provision for distributing the burden of furnish ing equipment on an equitable basis among the respective carriers CD a more liberal use of terminal facili- ties in the interest of free movement of commrce; and (S) limitations within which common carrier faci- . llties and services may be furnish ed by shippers or receivers of freight
 Should the policy of public own- efship and operation be adopted. there must be considered: CD The just and fair price at which, and the terms under which carrier properties are to be acquired CD prohibiting the operation of railways as a fiscal contrivance. insuring their admins Lration in the interest of the convent ence and commerce of the people, re- quiring that they shall be self-sup- porting, and that their rates shall be properly related to the ascertain ed cost of service, and retaining and the economies and advant-' ages of large scale production in ! (3) responsibility and relationship of the railway adminis- ration to Congress and other Fede- 'al authorities and to the states; (4) guarding against the intrusion of party politics into railway manage nent; (5) status for railway off 'ers and employees under which the 'ailway service will attract and re- ain the best talent; and T(6) main- ( enance of tribunal for the deter l of controversies which will ( inevitably arise even under public operation.