The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-07-23
TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT
Another Portfolio Suggested for Presi-
dents Cabinet.

One OF tne most noteworthy SuHEeS"
tions made by Judge Lovett, head of the
Union Pacific system, in his memoran-
dunn to Congress on the return of the
railroads, is for department Of trans
portation, with the head of it a member
of the presidents cabinet. There is al
ready a department of commerce and a
department of labor, while the trans
portation interests of the country are
Just as important as the postal system,
for instance.
The attempt to regulate the railroads
heretofore has been through the medium
of the interstate commerce commission,
and in spite of the change in its person
mel, its policy and tradition seem from
the start to have been hostile to the
railroads. 1t is true that when the COM
mission came into being it was to meet
situation created by illegitimate prac
tees on the part of the railroads which
had eliminated in an adverse public feel
ing. But the commission has been in
existence long enough for new genera
ton of railroad managers to have sprung
up, bringing with them an appreciation
of the value of public good win as rail-
road asset; yet the interstate commerce
The element of strict justice seems to be
lacking, and until the war raises in rates
were not permitted, even though it
meant bankruptcy to deny them.
Some reorganization of federal rail-
road regulation would seem, therefore, to
be necessary. The interstate commerce
commission is also charged with many
executive and administrative functions
which do not belong to a semi judicial
body. The proposition is to leave to the
commission the duty of passing upon
rates and questions of like character,
while the purely administrative duties
relating to the quality nd character of
the service rendered, to the application
of safety appliances and their mainte-
nance, to the condition of equipment and
the enforcement of the law, and regula-
tions with respect to accident reports,
should be the work of separate depart
ment.
Judge Lovett, it viii be recalled, was
an executive head of the railroad admin
istration under Mr.. McAdoo, and his
views are not based on mere theory, but
upon actual demonstration under condi-
tions closely paralleling those which he
seeks to establish He very properly
observes that executive and administra-
tive functions cannot be efficiently exer.
cised by boards, commissions or COM
mittees. The larger the board or COM
mission the more cumbersome or difficult
becomes the task; and the ADLER and
stronger as executives the individuals
are, the more likely that the board or
commission will become a debating So
ntatxy lrinp hut 1tttIn
the work, unless, of course, they avoid
conflict by leaving the work to subordi-
mates.
Recent experience has demonstrated
the necessity for a national government
officer to meet emergencies resulting
from exceptional congestion in traffic or
through blockades of transportation, by
quickly mobilizing the transportation re-
sources and by the arbitrary diversion,
If need be, of traffic from lines which
cannot handle it to lines which can by
instant and heroic methods A power so
vast should be committed to no officer or
less rank than cabinet member, who is
part of the administration and is in di-
rect touch with the president and can
change orders instantly to meet chang
ing conditions
1t is understood that some opposition
may come from the labor element
through fear of political control of the
railroads, This could hardly be any
worse than it is to-day and, besides, la
Dor has its own cabinet minister and
must not expect to have everything its
own way. Judge Lovett's suggestion is
a step forward in a solution of this very
difficult problem York CONNER
rial.