Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-09-24
MANCHESTER AMONG CITIES
WHICH WANT RAILROADS RE.
TURNED TO OWNERS.

MANCHESTER AMONG CITIES
WHICH WANT RAILROADS RE.
TURNED TO OWNERS.
Merle Thorpe, editor and genera
manager OF "The Nations Business
published by the Chamber of Com
merce of the United States Of Ameri-
ca, has sent to The Democrat com
munication which will be OF interest
to the people of Manchester and vi
cinity. This article gives Manchester
as among the cities of Iowa favoring
the return of the railroads to their
owners as soon as such legislation can
be enacted.
Following is the communication
from Mr.. Thorpe:
Looking over the returns Of the
referendum vote cast in Iowa on the
railroad plan submitted by the Cham
ber of Commerce of the United States,
i found some facts which may be Of
interest to you.
"The Commercial organization of
Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Charles
City, Clarinda, Clinton, Davenport, Des
Moines, DUBUQUE, Fort Dodge, Iowa
City, Manchester and Ottumwa voted
in favor Of returning the railroads to
their owners as soon as the necessary
legislation can be enacted.
"Algona, Belmond, Cedar Falls,
Council Bluffs, Keokuk, Marshalltown,
Muscatine and Waterloo, which also
belong to the National Chamber, did
not avail themselves Of the opportun-
.ity to vote.
"The twelve organizations partici-
pating in the referendum also went
on record as favoring regulation of
capital expenditures and security is
sues; with the exception OF Cedar
Rapids. favoring consolidation in a
limited number OF strong competing
systems: with the exceptions Of Cedar
Rapids, Charles City and Dubuque.
fayoring federal charters; with the
exception of Dubuque, fayoring fed
eral regulation Of intrastate rates
affecting Interstate commerce: with
the exceptions OF Clinton and Des
Moines. favoring a statutory rule pro-
viding that. rates fixed by the Inter-
state Commerce Commission shall be
designed to yield a sufficient return
to keep up the property and furnish
adequate service; with the exception
of Clinton, Dubuque (Which was di-
vided) and Iowa City, favoring the
creation of federal transportation
hoard to promote development of a
national system of rail, water and
highway transportation and articula-
ton of all facilities.
"The complete returns on, the re-
ferendum show that from so to 80 per
cent of votes cast in As states were
for the following propositions:
"To return the roads to their own
iers for operation. with comprehensive
regulation.
ITO bring the consolidation Of the
roads In a limited number of strong
competing systems, hooking weak
lines up with the strong ones.
ITO require the roads to take out
federal charters, the states to retain
taxing and police powers.
'To provide for federal regulation
of capital expenditures and security
issues.
"To provide for federal regulation
OF intrastate rates affecting inter-
state rates.
ITO provide for a statutory rule OF
rate making.
..To create federal transportation
Board.
s'The Chamber OF Commerce OF the
United States, therefore, is committed
by the referendum vote to the general
railroad plan outlined. and the chair
man OF the railroad committee, George
A. Post Of New York, has presented
the plan to the appropriate commit
tees Of Congress.
thirty different plans for dispos-
ing OF the railroads have been offered
but only two have had referendum
|treatment-the Chamber of Commerce
plan which has the endorsement OF
business men, and the Plumb plan
for government ownership, which has
the endorsement OF the railroad bro
therhoods."