New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-10-24
ANNUAL CONVENTION OF
RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS

/ The National Association OF Rail
way and Utilities Commissioner
held its thrty-first annual cony5n-
tion in Indianapolis last week. Many
questions connected with the trans
portation industry were considered.
Leading men in the association and
others made addresses The Stnti-
ment was strongly in favor OF early
return OF the railroads to their own
erS.
Governor Goodrich of indiana
pointed out the necessity Uf stabilil-
ing the national transportation sys-
TEN 50 that it may co-operaa. with
the merchant marine. The new
world trade that the United State
had developed should be prut1cfe4
He favored that the railroads shouid
be returned at the very earliest date
possible IS there was no reason for
delay The governor favored an iu-
creas d IN rates at once ii the pres
ent rates were not adequate rather
than that the deficit should be pai /
ont OF the Federal treasury
Governor Goodrich was in favor ot
consolidating railroad systems as a
ibdtAAA VI bul lHlS SilDutl
be done in a way to preserve the
competitive system that had made
the railroads OF America maryelS oi
efficiency and economic management
before they were taken over by the
government Lack of competition
under government control had in his
opinion caused the railroads to lose
one of their greatest assets. This IS
the morale of the men. Under the
present system their loyalty had dis.
appeared on many roads and spirit
OF discomfort had taken the place
OF pride and loyalty. The only way
the morale can be restored is by re-
turning the roads to their owners.
Clyde b. Aitchison, chairman Of The
Interstate Commerce Commission, pc
viewed the present railroad situatiou
and the plans proposed for the operd-
ton OF the roads. He asserte t1at
whatever general policy is followed,
the duty is to secure a system oi
transportation adequate for uat ,orll
needs in times of national tres ol
peril Is well as during peac.. The
duty is primarily upon the nation,
rather than on the states.
Speaking of government ownership
OF railroads Mr.. Aitchison said THE
temptation would be strong to treat
the transportation systems as a fiscal
contriVance of the government rath-
er than as an inStrumentality OF COM
merce and for national defense. Labor
difficulties will not be obyiated by the
mere adoption OF a plausible plan. The
a. void 1f a,,I th..
ton of status which attract to and
retain the best men in the railway
service under governmental opera
tion, present serious obstacles"
Mr.. Aitchinson does not favor
wasteful and unnecessary competi-
ton and duplication in service. Com
petition in rates." he said, had large
ly disappeared and as the principles
OF regulation become better develop
ed and administered the necessity
for such competition is less marked
But while human nature remains as
it is, although the modicum of prop
er service can be compelled regard
less of competition, the rivalry be-
tween man and man. and men and
men, is needed to keep to the high
SSt tuN stduudIu Vi competitive ser
vice, and by reflection of non
competitive service. As a necessary
means of preventing wasteful COM
petition, the regulating body must
have the power to prescribe the
rate as well as the max
imum"
Mr.. Aitchison also dwelt on the
Importance of preventing cessation
OF railroad service because of dis
of the employees He
called attention to that the lives of
more than 100000 people are de-
pendent upon the continued adequate
functioning of the national transpor- !
tation system.
Among other matters discussed was
the control of telephone and tele-
graph lines. The convention does
not favor general control by the .
Federal authorities except over lines
that are wholly interstate in charac-
ter.