New-York tribune., 1919-01-18
''Cabinet Office
Eor. Rail Chief
lsOwners' Plan
High Official 10 Free Com
merce Commission From
''Terrorism,'' Says Thorn
Emphasizes Importance
Counsel for the Executives
Dubts the Bugaboo of
stong Polotical Following
lNew York 1ribun >
Washington Bured1

New York Tyfbuns
Washington Bured1
WILMINGTON. Jan. 17.-Congress
sbouI create as part of the new rail
road,rogramme special department
of trlsportation, with Cabinet officer
at il head to free the governmental
receptive body from the terrorism
of rlitical influence which the Inter
stat Commerce Commission now faces
evoY time it undertakes to pass on
an ppeal for rate increases, Alfred p
THIN. general counsel for the Assoca-
tio of Railroad Executives, told the
Interstate Commerce Commission at
thA railroad hearing here to-day.
"rhe Interstate Commerce Commits
sion and the state commissions may be
brave enough to withstand influence,
said Mr.. Thorn, but if you are going
to really solve the railroad problem
you ought to remove them from all
possibility of influence"
Emphasizing the Importance of re-
moving the governmental railroad
agency as far as possible from "petty
politics. Mr.. Thorn related that a mem
Der of one of the state public service
commissions had only recently told
him that there never was time in his
state when q proposal to increase rates
did not Immediately cause the intro
duction of a bill in the Legislature to
abolish the commission.
"W hen application was made to the
4
1917 for rate increase" said Mr.. Thorn
"and that body had the matter under
consideration. resolutions were intro
duced in the Senate for congressional
inquiry.
Can't Get Away From Politics
as it too strong to say that this was
a case of terrorism exercised over the
Interstate Commerce Commission by q
body which has the power of life and
death over it? OF course, we cannot
get away from politics. but there is a
difference between petty politics and
great politics. All that we ask is that
you regulate us through political agen-
way and which viii be most responsive
to the needs.
Mr.. Thorn expressed the belief that
a Secretary of Transportation would
be above "pety political influences,
and continued:
The duty of the Secretary of Trans
tortation would be to consider trans
Fortation problems from the hroat
Viewpoint of the public interest and
to make recommendations to the Presi-
dent and TO the Interstate Commerce
Com mission to promote the public in
terost HIS realization Of the public
m
needs would have behind them The
force Of the administration, and the
successful supervision of transporta
ton would be necessary to the success
OF me Administration.
"Cuestions relating 20 railroad rev
cnucs for example, should not be de
tcrmlned by the selfish interests Of
tne railroads or the selfish interests OF
tho shippers, but by the public inter
est We believe that transportation is
Of sucn vital importance in ouA. ma
tlonal life that it ought to haC it's
representative in the cabinet.
Roads Needed 20 Win War
Il believe it viii be generally con-
cedeG tiat the railroads were neces
sary = win the war In times ot
pe9ce ticy are more important thar
, the army and navy. Yet we have Z
= SECRETARY Of the navy and a secretary
Of HFarsitcing at the Presidents table
We hac man in the cabinet repre-
= sentins agriculture. Why is it not as
Necessary to have man there charged
win rpresenting transportation?
4 a told that there will be oppo-
tion D this proposal from two quar-
.ers,' aid Mr. Thorn. "(1) one of the
poh.ica rartics; p the other politi-
xl parry
Declaring that this opposition on
D the par Of politicians seemed to origi-
nate frsm q fear that cabinet officer
! at tho head Of the railroads Of the
country would be able to build up q
danyeFoasly powerful political ma
chine, Mr.. Thorn declared that he did
no. believe trat this was possible and
pointed out that, despite the fact that
a member Of the cabinet had far larger
ana more direct control over the rail
ROADS at the time Of the last congress
Sionai elections than would be the case
1ndrr the proposed legislation, the
poii'icai victory had gone to the oppos-
ing party. Op'O"
tiarks Plan Is Opposed
"Under the plan we have orerod ,,
said Mr. Thorn, "tne Interstate cor,
merce Commission would he rolinvad
Of some Of its burdens and would he
raised in dignity as judicial BODY,
u would act as check both on the
railroads and on the department Of
transportation. With the suggested
regional commissions assisting in vari-
Gus parts Of the country. it would bc
brought much closer 10 the individual
communities, and local questions
would be heard by these local commits
sions before coming up to the central
body for review"
Mr Thorn declared that the railroad
Executives were opposed to the plan
Proposed by Commissioner Clark 10
gise the commission the power TO iM-
i1iate both maximum and minimum
fatez because they believed that such
plan you'd not provide the necessary
hezibLity or promptness necessary to
MAINTAIN proper relation between
ne railroads and the development Of
oHsinesz.
We are asking for permission TO
work out our own salvation under d
ssatatory rule which makes provision
~ review by competent govern
asota' oody," gaid Mr. Thorn. "Thc
,sssriers should have the power 10 mi
saa1f rates. 70 that there will be ma
.a.ahsry ~ make rates 10 meet the
ssssie needs promptly.
Wouid EquaIize Burden