New-York tribune., 1919-01-29
Traffic Bodies of the State
Contend System Destroys
All American Initiative
Return of Lines Sought
Restoration Of Rate-Making
Powers to |. e. C.. Also
Is Demanded Of Senate
lNc,c loris Tribune
Washington Buredr

" uSflllUtOn buTeu'
WASHINGTON. Jan. Vigorous
opposition to continued Federal con
troll of the railroads was voiced to-
day before the Senate Interstate Com
merce Committee by r. c. Fulbright
of Houston. Tex. representing the
Texas Association q Commerce, The
Southwestern Industrial Traffic League
and the Texas Industrial Traffic League.
Pending legislation by Congress re-
turning the roads to their private
owners. Mr.. Fulbright demanded that
preliminary legislation be enacted at
once restoring the rate-making ana
police powers of the Interstate Com
merce Commission and the state COM
missions.
Concerning permanent policy o1
regulation, the witness presented n
set of resolutions adopted b. the
Southwestern Industrial Traffic League,
containing the following features:
/. Opposition to the principle or
government ownership and operation,
las being destructive Of American
lHitldIlNc anu iiliSO eiAS AZ VI >.'N1 ~
the American public aud demand
ing that "the railways and express
companies now operated by the Fed
eral government be returned to the
owners of such properties and com
petitive conditions restored as soon
as adequate recons tructlon leglsla-
ton can be accomplished.
=. Approval of legislation to Sc
cure unified control OF rates, regu-
lations and practices, both inter
state and intrastate
Cabinet Place Opposed
3. Disapproval of the proposal of
the railway executives to create the
cabinet position OF Secretary OF
Transportation.
a. Approval of state and = onal
regulation OF railway securit.- les
and Federal financial aid to il
roads in the making of imprc Its
and extensions.
5. Elimination of circuitous routes
by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission and pooling of equipment
and unification of terminals under
Federal control.
6. Power in the Interstate Com
merce Commission to fix minimum
rates.
:. Adjudication of wage disputes
before a non partisan body, similar
to the Interstate Commerce Com
missions. and legislation to prevent
interruption of railway traffic due
to strikes or walkouts.
8. Restoration of the police powers
of the state commissions.
9. Immediate restoration Of the
rate making powers and the power
of suspension over rates of the In
terstate Commerce Commission.
No Action on Cummins ELL
The committee took no action to-
day with regard to the bill introduced d
III the Senate yeste rday by Senator
Cummlns, Of Iowa, revokng the power
of the President to return the roads
to their owners before the expiration
OF the twenty-one months period Of
after-thewar operation of the car
rIers by the government. A threat to
return the roads Immediately after
March 4 unless the Federal control
period was extended to five .ears was
made before the committee by former
Director General McAdoo.
Acting Chairman Pomerene an
nounced that Edgar j. Rich. represent
ing New England shipping interests,
would 90 on the stanc tomorrow morn
ing, and probably would be followed by
representatives OF various state com
missions who have been waiting to
testify. S. Davies Warfeld, president
O. the Association of Railway Security
Owners, who had asked permission to
be heard tomorrow, informed the com
mttee he was not prepared to 90 on
at this time.
Although he read lengthy type
written statement to the committee,
Mr. Fulbright departed from the text
from time to time. Ddring one of
these brief digressions he complained
that under government operation Of
the telephone and telegraph com
panies shippers he represented had to
be inconvenienced to a great extent by
the garbling of important business tel
egrams.