The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-01-11
UNIFIED PRIVATE .
RAIL CONTROL
Railway Executives Suggest
Substitute for the Nc
Adoo Plan.
GOVERNMENT TO BEAR
GREAT RESPONSIBILITY
Machinery of Administration
Would Include Secretary OF
Transportation With Seat IN
Cabinet.

Transportation With Seat IN
Cabinet.
Washington, JAM 7.-Railroad exc
cutives have decided to recommend
to congress a system Of unlfled prl-
vate management of mail lines with
strong public control exercised by
secretary of transportation in the
presidents cabinet and a reorganlzed
interstate commerce commission with
regional divisions acting as court OF
last resort in rate disputes. This be-
came known here today coincidental
with the disclosures Of the interstate
commerce commissions attitude that
railroads should be returned to prl-
yate management within a reason
able period" to allow for prepara-
tons and reaGjustnents and under
''broadened, extended and amplIhed
governmental regulation
The commissions announcement
was made by Commissioner Edgar =.
Clark, teStifying at the senate inter
state commerce committees hearing
on proposed railroad legislation, to
which the railway executives pro
posed plan will be presented tomor-
row or Thursday The commission op-
posed indefinite continuance OF gov
ernment ownership or operation OF
railroads at this time and outlined
comprehensive plan for Legislation
which would permit elimination c.
unnecessary competition, pooling or
facilities government prescription OF
maximum and minimum rates and
standards Of service, government dl-
rection of railroad extensions and M
ancing and direct cooperation between
fedora! and State regulatory bodies
Commissioner Wooley d!ssented in
part, advocating Director General Nc
Adoo's proposal that government con-
troll be extended for five years to pro-
vide test period.
The interstate commerce comHls-
s:on's suggestions were first alterna-
tives to Mr. McAdoo's extension plan
so far received by the senate commit
tee. Most of the comm 'ssion's sug-
gestions are understood to be embod-
led in the railroad executives plan
which also proposes permanent re
tention of a greater part Of the re-
forms effected by the railroad admin
;stration.
The interstate commerce commits
sion statement to the senate commit
tee referred repeatedly to "a fedora
body to exercise public control over
railroads. but it did not specify
whether this was to be the commits
sion itself or some other agency. The
plan of the railroad executives, on
the other hand, proposes to give to
the secretary of transportation broad
powers to coordinate and unity rail-
road facilities whenever demanded by
the public interests: to distribute traf-
fic over various lines for the purpose
of relieving congestion and to require
the joint use of terminals.
To coordinate the agencies of gov
ernment control the railroad execu-
tives proposed to transfer to the de-
partment of transportation the execu-
tive and administrative function now
held by the interstate commerce COM
mission. The commission would re-
main the court Of last resort as to
reasonab1eness and adequacy Of
freight and passenger rates, but the
responsibility for rate regulation
would be divided between the secre-
tary of transportation, the conmis-
sion and new regional commissions
representing groups of States, re-
porting their findings to the commits
sion at Washington.
The proposal Of the railroad lead
ers is that rates filed by them with
the government shall be reviewed by
! the secretary Of transportation who
may approve or disapprove them or
refer them to the commission. Any
rates made the subject of complaint
by the public could be brought be-
fore the commission for review, re-
| gardless Of the cabinet officers action.
The period for which rates might be
| suspended pending Investigation
would be reduced from ten months
as at present, to two months
The railroad mems attitude is that
the commerce commissions efficiency
would be increased through relieving
it Of administrative detail, and the
turning over to regional commission
of much routine involved in hearing
local rate cases.
To make possible consolidation Of
weak railroads with strong lines,
Joint use Of cars and facilities. inter
company agreements as to rates ana
practices, the rail executives would
amend existing laws forbidding these
practices. and legaliZe them under su-
pervision of the secretary OF trans
portation Other features OF the rail
road proposal include federal incor-
poration of all railroad companies,
federal control of railroad securities
issues and establishment Of federal
wage board to investigate wage and
employment disputes.
In the event Of adoption by con-
gress Of the policy of private OWL
ership and operation under govern