The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-18
URGES RAILROAD
CABINET OFFICER
Would Remove Petty Politics
From Transportation Prob
lens, Thorn Declares.
COMPLAINS OF TERRORISM
Proposed Secretary Would
Take Broad Viewpoint Of
Public Interest.
Special Despdfch to TEE srr


WASHINGTON. Jan. 17.-Removal OF
ne railroad problem from the influence
II petty politics by the creation OF a
department. OF transportation with new
Cabinet officer was urged upon the Sem
ate Interstate Commerce COMMITTEES to-
dsy by A. p. Thorn, general counsel Of
the Association OF Railway Executives.
Such q movo would remove the terror
ism" practised on the Interstate Com
merce Commission and the various State
commissions by Congress and State
legislatures
There is a Cabinet officer at the head
IL the army and a Cabinet officer at the
head OF the navy" Mr.. Thorn pointed
cut "So one will deny the absolute
necessity OF railroads in time OF war
nor the important part they played in
winning this war. In times of peace
me railroads are far more important
han the army and navy and should have
representation in the Presidents Cabi-
ret. II would remove the railroads
from the influence OF petty politics even
Il It did not remove them from politics.
in my opinion when a man reaches tho
dignity and responsibility OF Cabinet
cal influences and more likely 10 decide
arge questions of public policy with an
we solely TO the pubic interest"
'Terrorism' Would Disappear"
Mr.. Thorn declared that he knew a
member OF a state railroad commission
vao told him that every time It was
proposed 70 take any action some mem
Der of the state Legislature introduced
bill to abolish the commission. This
5 the form OF terrorism from which Il
department OF transportation would be
.ree. he said. Said Mr.. Thorn;
"'rhe duty OF the Secretary Of Trans
portation would be to consider trarspor-
lntion problems from the broad view
point OF the public interest and to make
recommendation to the President and 10
the Interstate Commerce Commission 10
promote the public interest. His realiza-
ton Of the public needs and his propo-
sails TO meet those needs would have be-
hind them the force Of administration
and the successful supervision OF trans
portation would be necessary to the sue
less of the administration. Questions
relating to railroad revenues. for ex-
ample. should not be determined by the
selfish interests of the railroads or the
sAlnsh interests OF the shippers. but by
portation is Of such vital importance in
our national life that It ought to have Its
representative In the Cabinet, along with
the representative Of agriculture. the rep
resentative of commerce and the repre-
ssntatives Of the army and the navy.
Want Statutory Rates.
Under the plan We have offered re
Interstate Commerce Commission would
b relieved of some OF its burdens and
would be raised in dignity as judicial
body. Il would act as a check both on
the railroads and on the Department of
Transportation with the suggested
-esonal commissions assisting II in
various parts of the country II would be
brought much closer to the individual
communities and local questions would
b heard by these local commissions
before coming UP to the central body for
review.
The railroads also urge that Congress
should establish n statutory rlle of rate
making to provide that oates shall be
rot only reasonable but adequate. ade-
auate TO insure proper service. reas-
enable return on the investment and to
sttract new capital"
A. present. Mr.. Thorn pointed out, II
10 difficult to dispose of issues OF rail-
rOdQ SlOCh party oii dtNOuhe VI t'o
limited market He cited the case OF
block of s1oo,oo0,ooo worth OF stock
Of a certain railroad in the South where
,nveftiga ton showed that only 3i2 per
cent OF the stock was held In that sec
non Bonded Indebtedness OF the roads
70 increasing while stock cannot be
disposed Of readily, he said. adding that
the Pennsylvania Railroad had been un-
sole to sell new stock Issues for more
than ave years, while the New York
Central has withdrawn two stock issues
cor the same reason.
Mr Thorn advocated some form OF
FEDERAL incorporation so that some OF
the weaker roads could amalga mate
with stronger ones. Putting the rail-
roads rrdsr a department OF trans
portation would wipe out one OF the IN.
justices caused by the States themselves
10 fixing various rates, he said. Every
State south OF the Potomac and east
OF me Mississippi had different State
rates