The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-12-07
COMMERCE BOARD
OPPOSES RETURN
TO FORMER PLAN
No Alternative Railway
Measures Suggested,

WASHINGTON, Dec Regard.
less OF whether railroad, finally gl0
back TO private management or re-
main m the hands OF the government,
radical changes should be made in
their method, and theories OF opera
ton TO provide a partial merger un-
der some sort Of government regull
ton the interstate commerce comms-
sion says IN It's annual report made
public today
The commission believe, the time rs
not ripe 10 recommend concrete pro-
p9sals for legislation relating to the
future policy toward railroads. but
says whatever be the nations decision.
there should be provision for complete
unlilcaiion Of the railways in war
time, partial merger IN ordinary
times, limitation Of railway conuruc-
ton 10 public necessity and ,ytcmatic
encouragement Of the development of
inland waterways and their c0-0rdl-
nation with rail carriers
In other words. the commi, sion is
opposed 10 restoration Of the old con
diiion, OF individual competition. ~
which pooling Of traffic was forbidden
by law and to the building OF new
lines without proof to the government
th~ they are economically necessary
Regulation Needed.
II II is finally decided 20 restore
railroads 10 private management. says
the commission, there should be legs-
lation 10 permit their cooperation
emancipation Of railway operation
from financial dicistion, goyernmsn.
regulation Of security issues; clearing
away OF the existing wiligh, ronc We
tween the authority OF state and fed
eral authorities IN railroad superyi-
sion; efficient use Of equipment and
common use Oi terminals
On the other hand. Il the policy Of
government ownership he adopted. the
principal questions to be considered
are. The price To be paid Tor the
roads; means Of preventing the rail
roads from being made sources Of
revenue 10 the government and also
to maintain them as seli.supporung.
measures TO define carefully the rc-
Sponslbility OF the railway admins
trati0n 10 congress and other federal
and state authorities; guarantee
against intrusion oi partisan polite,
into railway management, and crea-
ton Of a tribunal TO settlement OF con
troyetsies over railroad matters.
Some sort OF government regulation
is suggested hy the commission in
connection with each ~ the five al
ternatlyeS OF future policy which NAV
be set forth BY different interests in
the near future These alternative,
are Continuation OF the present ,yS-
tenn OF government control with pu-
yale ownership. public ownership with
private operation, private operation
with government regulation and guar
antee', complete private control and
ownership and complete public own
ership and operation.
The report deals al length with the
upheayal OF railroad relations cau-ed
by the war and the governments as
sumption OF operation, and the rell-
tons Of the interstate commerce com.
mission to Director General McAdoo
and the railroad administration. The
commission has eo-operated fully with
the government management, saws IN,
report, but the commission still re.
tains It's authority TO review rate5 in.
itiated by the director general
Valuation Work.
Railroad valuation work Of IN,
commission. which will become oI
great importance in case OF govern.
ment purchase, is proceeding with 1t.
tie interference ON aoconnt OF the war
Safety work has been assumed partl,
by the railroad administration, hui
educational work i, being continued
throughout tbe country, The commis
sion in the last year has made srea
strides in seeking 10 promote uni
form rate claSsifications, and has un
deriaken a number Of other inycstlga
tons Of rates and practices
The report, including tho state
ment concerning future policies TO-
ward railroads, is signed by all th'
commissioners, except George w An
derson who recently resigned to ae
eep, another federal appointment,
Others are. Winthrop NJ Daniels
chairman, Edgar z, Clark lanes :
Harlan. Charlie, [. MeChotd Bal