The sun., 1919-02-20
STATE BODIES AGREE
TO NEW RAIL POLICY
Conference With Hines Re-
suits in Plans to Improve
the Service.
q. s. CONTROLS RATES
Meeting Which Clears Away
Many Complaints Will Con-
tinue To-day.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-the line OF
dsmarcation between the authority Of
the Railroad Administration and the
state Utility Commissions over the rail-
roads in the present status was reached,
partially at least, at an all day confer
ence between Director-General OF Rail-
roads Hines and representatives OF the
State commissions. The conference will
Be resumed tomorrow. but many points
OF respective authority were determined
A. the conference, which ran late. into
the night. One of these Is the authority
OF the Railroad Administration over
rates.
IN an official announcement from the
Railroad Administration Il was stated
;hat State representatives and the Rail-
road Administration were in agreement
FRAT both interests should cooperate for
the benefit Of the public service.
The conference was called by Director
General Hines to reach an agreement on
constructive policy and to smooth the
conflicts that had caused certain State
administrations to buck"
New Policy Is Announced.
Max Thelen. director Of the division OF
public service. and E. c. Niles Of the
same division. represented the Railroad
Administration at the conference and
the executive committee and the special
war committee OF the National Associa-
ton Of State Railway and Utilities Com
missions. headed by Charles e. Elmauist,
president. represented the States -.
AS a result OF the meeting the Direc-
tor-General plans to put In effect the
following policy as to operation Of the
railroads under Federal control. involv-
ing police regulations Of the several
States other than those affecting the
transport OF troops, war materials or
Government supplies or the issue OF
stocks or bonds or rates, fares and
charges. With this policy the repre-
sentatlves Of the State commissions ex-
pressed themselves as being In entire
accord
Transportation systems under Fed
eTai control continue subject to the law
ful police regulations Of the several
states in such matters as spur. tracks,
railroad crossings. safety appliances,
track connections. train service, the es-
adjustment, maintenance and SANTA
don OF station facilities. the investiga-
f'on OF accidents and other matters of
local service. safety and equipment.
Must Watch Revenues.
TT will be the policy Of the Director
General to cause the orders of the State
commissions In these matters to be car
RED out The attention OF the State
commissions, however. Is invited to the
present status OF the railroads under
Federal control and the responsibility
Of the Federal Treasury for any def
ciencles in revenue, and II is assumed
Inst expenditures will be ordered only
in the light OF this status and after full
consideration of the hearing OF the par
ocular case upon tn. needs and difficult
ties Of the United States In operating
tho railroads"
The Director-General also announced
The following policy In regard to inves-
legations and reports on the part Of the
State commissions. and with this policy
lives expressed approval:
THE Director-General earnestly de-
S!res to accord to the public the best
possible service. He requests tho as
distance of the State commissions In In
vestgatlng and reporting to him the
facts with recommendations as to the
existing service.
"All State commissions. are requested.
70 far as they can conveniently do 30.
20 investigate the character. of freight
and passenger service. the physical con-
dition Of track and equipment. the
prompt loading and unloading of equip
7nent and the general efficiency OF the
service In their respective States, and
10 die reports with the Director Gen
oral, sending a COPY TO the regional d.
rsctor"
Would Have Twenty-Five Systems.
WASHINGTON. Feb. ls.--Daniel Will
ard, president of the Baltimore and Ohio.
continuing testimony to-day before the
Senate Interstate Commerce Committee
proposed ultimate consolidation OF all the
country's railroads into about twenty
I'VE great systems along present lines
as an alternative TO the plan of estab-
ishing regional systems on n geograph-
teal basis