New-York tribune., 1919-01-10


emergency he should have power to
olrect that during the continuance of
such emergency the carriers should
coordinate their facilities and opera
tions and operate their properties as
unlhcd national system on such
terms as he may find to be Just and
reasonable in the public interest.
PROPER provision should be made for
Just compensation TO any carrier in
Jured thereby.
"(e) Ii he find it necessary in or
der to provide adequately for the
movement OF traffic, he should have
power 70 require any carrier to dis
tribute Its cars to other lines on
such terms as he may deem lust
subject as to such terms to an appeal
to the Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion.
"(D He should have power to re-
qure any carrier to distribute it's
cars among its patrons in accordance
with their needs and the public in
tcrest in the same manner and to the
same extent as the Interstate Com
merce Commission is now by law au-
thorized to do.
Powers of Secretary
"1 No new or branch lines of rail-
road or large and expensive terminals
should be constructed unless GER
tiicate of public convenience and
necessity is first obtained from the sec
retary of transportation.
"6. The executive and administra-
tive functions Of the Interstate Com
merce Commission. except as to ac-
counting and as to Federal valuation Of
railroad properties, should be trans
ferred to the secretary of transporta-
tion.
a. 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 of the states in
which the rates are applicable and
through which the carrier operates;
and, if not suspended as hereinafter
fective thirty days after the same have
been so filed. unless shorter period
is in special cases authorized by the
secretary Of transportation.
at should be made the duty of the
secretary of transp sportaton to prompt-
ly consider the new rates so brought
to his attention. and he shall either:
"(a) Approve the same, giving his
reasons for such approval, or
"(b) Permit the rates to so into
effect without his specific approval or
disaproval. or
"(c) Disapprove the same, giving
his reasons therefor
"ln case he disapprovcs any rate or
fails to specifically approve or disap-
prove it, he may suspend it for period
not exceeding sixty days and refer the
same to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission for consideration and determi-
nation.
IS. The statute itself should provide
the rule of rate making. and should re
quirc that rates be not only what has
been called reasonable, but adequate
and sufficient 80 enable the carriers to
provide safe, adequate and sufficient
service, to protect existing investment
and to attract the new capital X>neces-
sary in the public interest, and, to that
end, the statute should, among other
things, specifically provide that the
level of rates must properly reflect
penses incident to the furnishing Of
transportation.
SO. Rates, whether approved or dis
approved by the Secretary of Trans
portation, may by complaint be brought
before the Interstate Commerce Com
mission for consideration, which should
have power to pass upon the reason
ableness and adequacy thereof subjcc
to the statutory rule in regard to rate
making, and, in any proceedings before
it in respect to rates, the commiss ion
should give due consideration to any
recommendations in respect thereto
made to it by the Secretary of Trans
portation. Rates approved by the Sec
retary of Trans sportation should be
pre- esumed to be reasonable and propcr
until found otherwise by the commits
sion.
40. In any proceedings before it in
respect to rates the Interstate Com
mcrce Commission should have tho
power to prescribe minimum as we'll as
maximum rates and to determine the
relation of. rates and differentials
whenever necessary or appropriate to
establish or maintain rate structure or
a relation or diferential found by it
to be just and proper.
III. The statute should provide that
existing rates put into effect by the
Directors General of Railroads should
be continued in effect until changed by
the Interstate Commerce Commission
as provided by law. or as provided in
Paragraph lc,e.'
"12. Any y be given the
right to com Of another
carrier in tn. o., and to the
same extent miCht do
QuicH fged
'13. The Interstate Commerce Com
mission, in orGcv that matters within
it's jurisdiction may be dealt with more
promptly and satisfactorily and with a
fuller appreciation Of all the circum-
stances and local conditions, should be
directed TO divide the United States in