Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1919-01-14
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS
Especial to The Bulletin)


on interstate commerce of the senate
which has the railroad problem Under
discussion, Mr.. Clark, chairman of the
interstate commerce commission stated
the views of that commission as to
what should be done. He took a firm
stand against government ownership
and stated that his opinion in this re-
gard represented that of the entire
commission with one exception He
felt certain that if the present stat
utory restrictions against consolidation
and cooperation were removed, the
larger and prosperous roads would
gradually absorb the weaker ones thus
bringing about unification and har-
mony in service that would in the end
be very BENEFICIAL to the public. 1t was
his opinion that under any possible
system that contemplated government
ownership and management the in
centive to reduce the cost. Of trans
portation by Improvement in facilities
and service would be lost and the
management would soon get into ruts
or be subjected to political manipu
lations which would inevitably result
in constantly increasing rates.
Senator Mclean who is a member
of the committee on interstate com
nerce commission propounded a good
many questions to Commissioner Clark
and his replies to some of them were
especially interesting to the people of
Connecticut and New England. Mr..
Mclean informed the commissioner
that he had received letters from the
stockholders OF the New Haven road
urging him to advocate government
ownership Of the railroads on the the
DRY that the government if the took
| the roads would redeem the stock Mr..
| Mclean asked the commissioner if
there was any probability of that and
/ the commissioner reply was very pos
| tive that he thought no such thing
was possible. The government would
| not pay more than the road was worth
and there was little prospect that there
would be any equity for the stock
| holders.
Senator Mclean called the commits
| sioner's attention to what has hap
pened in New England where consoli-
! dations and absorptions were permit
| ted and asked the commissioner if he
didn't think that under a rea sonable
policy of that sort the Pennsylvania
| road couldn't afford to may more fol-
! the New Haven road than the govern
ment and whether under skillful man
/ agement of railroad men OF long ex-
| Derience, the people of New England
| would not be better served and thai
| cheaper rates would be more likely
and the future for the stockholders
would be brighter than if the govern
, mcnt should condemn the road and try
to run it.
Commissioner Clark. said that the
| Pennsylvania road could probably af-
ford to pay more than the government
and the stockholders and the public
would he II the long run better served
Inc interstate commerce commission
err win one exception were opposed K
Mr.. McAdoo.s plan. for a tiye-years
extension OF inc present government
fe%Ht2hoN IN response p &Ueaton!
ptppsH uF@ ny senator Mc!.edAl Aif
| Clatk S'2t9d mat year Or 50 Wou6
be sum eTt time 10 get al the iAtor-
natoh mat inc present pan Won't
lnfh-sN ana 'h2J "oa.d ne Oh value 20
framing 'eG!sl&t9r f0r Dermanen
vs.. u q a'ifc'I management
"hon buectar General 4leAdoo wa
on lne st3nu lt,St week, senator We
Loan asked nm what the StraUol
"o4LH De IL ms fTe-Naaf pan Sh0uH
emo IN Ia'.aIe- me dl.e2t2r 2cn!tte'
N1a1 vas ah'ul an "olto happen. hec
seem TO ne no answer TO the senator.
position thaL It would be lmDossthl
- tSH' 80 "1>tIi, = '''lt pan ny ti$
ihG 2'"-h'H ana Gl'i@rtrt Plaza. Sen
aL2T Nie'+ean b-2p-nt ti.!s point to IN
. 4l'eatloh or Co.0iliSsidher Clark Whe
5 ne was GIVING hl@ testimony on &on
cay 2ha me commissioner All eed VT
MI mclean tA2t one %2ar under norm
az c2Ha'lloh5 ShcR't he SUH!cient ar
mat i continuation OF me present pa
lOf NFe Te2ri was Vhotly u2ncesSar
ana Noulu ne Ik5iE To eho Ill SeflOu
q lfoNe'e.
. PUSH ro-aiu1 trade Of the r'rife
, States far INTO lie orient and SaYt
, A,!rric9 is The s,raor cf after tho- W.
, ctr7marco The RESTED Sts+as ie nor
Jar behind il its nraparetion fo;. for
eirn trade and Gan9tor {veei-s lcn
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