The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-01-09
STRICT FEDERAL
REGULATIONS ARE
ASKED FOR ROADS
Program for Private Rail
Ownership Under U. S. Su-
perviision Presented Com
mittee.
(By Associated Press)

(By Associated Press)
WASHINGTON, Jan. "a compre-
hensive program for private owner
| ship and management of railroads un-
der strict government regulation was
! laid before the senate interstate COM
merce committee today by T. Dewitt
Cuyler, chairman of the Association of
| Railway Executives. representing
practically all leading railroads in the
| United States. The plan includes pro-
vision for merging systems, a large
measure Of unification of operation,
| pooling of facilities and in certain
| cases of earnings, and enforcement of
! adequate service under supervision of
a secretary of transportation. new
cabinet office, with the interstate COM
| merce commission acting as supreme
court of review of rates disputes.
| Wage and employment disputes
which could not be settled between
employees and managements would be
referred to an adjustment board with
! in the department of transportation
| under the plan, and strikes and lock-
outs forbidden pending investigation.
Most operating reforms effected dur
ing unified management by the rail
road administration would be cOntin-
| ued, but the executives object to Di-
rector-General McAdoos proposal for
five year extension of government con-
troll. Their suggestions are similar to
the recommendations of the interstate
| commerce commission, presented to
the senate committee at hearings earl
Ter in this week.
Should Initiate Rates.
"The fundamental and essential
purpose to be accomplished is to furn-
ish the public with safe, efficient and
adequate transportation at the lowest
cost consistent with such service" !"
said Mr.. Cuyler, reading to the COM
mittee a prepared statement. THE
carriers should have the power to ini-
tiate rates, schedules of which should
be filed with the interstate commerce
mission, with the secretary of trans
portation, and with the state commits
sions in which the rates are ap-
plicable."
The secretary Of transportation
might approve the rates, let them go
into effect without approval, or sus-
pend them and refer them to the in
terstate commerce commission for de-
termination, the commission might
also hear complaints by shipper or
others. and have authority to prescribe
minimum as well as maximum rates.
Mr.. Cuyler's statement specified
that "the statute itself should provide
the rule of rate making, and should
require that rates be not only what
has been called reasonable. but ade-
quate and sufficient to enable the car
riers to provide safe, adequate and
sufficient service, to protect existing
investment and to attract the new
capital necessary in the public inter
est, and with due regard to the just
interests of the owners and employees
and also adequate to the nations
needs even in times of great national
emergency or peril
Adequate National Service.
He declared that whatever plan or
policy should be adopted. provision
should be made for adequate service
for the country's needs, for necessary
construction with prevention of waste
by injudictious road building, for con-
solidations when dictated by public in
terest, and for a rate structure which
will provide sufficient revenues and
create sufficient credit to accomplish
these purposes
"To this end said Mr. Cuyler.
private ownership, management and
operation of the American railways
should, as matter of national policy,
be continued.
"The power of regulation of the IN
strumentalities of interstate COM
merce. as to all things substantially
effecting them, including all rates,
state and interstate. should be ex-
clusively in the hands of the national
government. State commissions
should not be interferred with by the
federal act except so far as necessary
to carry out the purposes herein men
toned
THE interstate commerce commits
sion should act as Quasijudical
body clothed with authority to pass
upon all questions concerning the rea-
sonableness and adequacy of rates
and concerning Determinations
Certificate for Building.
mo new or branch lines of railroad
or large and expensive terminals
should be constructed unless a certifi-
cate Of public convenience and neces-
sity is first obtained from the secre-
tary Of TRANSFORMATION. The execu-
tive and administrative functions OF
the interstate commerce commission.
except As TO accounting and as to fed
eral valuation Of railroad properties.
should be transferred to the secretary
OF transportation.
1t was declared further that "the
statute should provide that existing
rates. put into effect by the director
renoral of railroads should be con-
.inuod in effect until changed nv tho
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. Re
gional federal rate tribunals. said Mr.
Cuy,er, might te created in this man
ner:
tc-~tinu-d o, Page Ten)