Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-01-09

rates and concerning Determinations.
To Fix Rates
NO new or branch lines of rail-
road or large ard expensive termi-
nails should be constructed unless a
certificate of public convenience and
necessity Is first obtained from the
Secretary of Transportation. The
executive and administrative func-
tions of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, except as to account
ing and as to Federal valuation OF
railroad properties, should be trans
ferred to the Secretary of Transpar-
tation.
The carriers should have the
power to initiate rates. schedules of
which should be filed with the Inter
state Commerce Commission with
the Secretary of Transportation and
with the state commissions In which
the rates are applicable.
The Secretary of transportation
might approve the rates, let them go
into effect without approval, or sus-
pend them and refer them to the
Interstate Commerce Commission for
determination The commission
might also hear complaints by ship
pers or others, and have authority
to prescribe minimum as we'll as
maximum rates"
Mr.. Cuyler's statement specified
that tho statute itself should pro-
vide the rule of rate-making. and
should require that rates be not only
what has been called reasonable, but
adequate and sufficient to enable the
carriers to provide safe, adequate
and sufficient service, to protect ex-
isting investment and to attract the
TOitll in tha ntIhliN
interest"
1t was declared further that "the
statute should provide that existing
rates, put into effect by the Director
General OF Railroads, should be con-
tinued in effect until changed by the
Interstate Commerce Commission as
provided by law" or through initia-
ton of new rates by roads. Express
rates should be dealt with in the
same manner as freight rates.
Rate Tribunals
Regional Federal rate tribunals,
said Mr.. Cuyler, might be created in
this manner: The Interstate Com
merce Commission should divide the
United States into number of re-
gions, for each of which the Presi-
dent should appoint regional COM
mission, which should be board of
! primary jurisdiction, consisting of
one member for each state in the
region. The regional commissions
| should have authority to determine
all complaints and to report to the
/ Interstate Cmmerce Commission. If
no objection is made to the Interstate
! Commerce Commission within a lim-
| tied time and the commission does
not overrule the lower tribunal. the
orders and findings of the regional
! commissions should automatically
go into effect.
| The railroad executives plan pro-
vides for Federal incorporation of
| interstate carriers for Governm ent
supervision of security issues, and
! for funding by Government railroad
| Indebtedness growing out of Federal
control during the war.
Broad supervisory powers should
! be granted the Secretary of Trans
portation, said Mr.. Cuyler. These
would include authority to require
rerouting of traffic to prevent or
| eliminate congestion, to require com
mon use of terminals, to compel
| complete unification in war times or
! other periods of national emergency,
| to require roads 10 distribute cars
among patrons fairly and to other
roads to provide for proper move
ment of traffic. Mergers or consoli-
dations. inter-company agreements
on rates or practices, pooling of IA
cilities. and pooling of earnings sin
! connection with elimination of un-
necessary train service, should be
subject to his approval. according to
the railroad plan. The Interstate
! Commerce Commission would re-
ceive appeals in case of disagree
M ent between a road and the Secre-
| tary of Transportation.