The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-01-09
RAILROAD MEN
!. APPROVE PLAN
Presented by Cuyler Placing
Authority in Hands of "Sec-
retary of Transportation"
PRIVATE 0W NERsHIP
40 laatter iof National Policy
Recommended to Sen
ate Committee.

Washington. Jan. 9.-Much of the
powerful authority over American
railways now exercised by the direc-
tor general would be placed in the
hands of new cabinet officer. "the
secretary of transportation" in a
plan outlined today by T. Dewitt
Cuyler, chairman of the association
of railway executives, to the senate
committee on interstate commerce.
This proposal, approved, he said,
by many of the leading railroad men
of the country, provides for the con-
tinuation as a matter of national poll
icy of private ownership, manage
inent and operation of the roads.
Not only would normal transport
t:ition be conducted under drastic
regulations of the proposed depart
lnent of transportation, but in time
of national emergency ii is recon-
mended that the railroads would be
operated as q unified national sys-
tem." practically as at present.
"The interstate commerce commits
sion should act as "a quasi judicial
i-ody to pass on questions of rates
and determinations" asserted Mr..
Cuyler. THE only administrative
and executive duties he would leave
this body are federal valuation and
Principal Powers.
These are the principal powers with
which Cuyler would invest the sec
retary of transportation"
1. Recommend to, the interstate
commerce commission measures to
provide proper rates and revenues.
n T.. 20 IN a M
fine to order distribution of its traf-
fc over other lines.
g.. Fix terms by which terminals Of
one road could be used by others.
4. Operate the lines as whole sin
case of serious national emergency"
5. Require any carrier, if neces-
sary, to loan its cars to others.
6. Protect patrons of any road by
requiring fair distribution of cars
among them.
7. Certify to the necessity for the
building of new lines or large termi-
nails.
Right to Complain.
The right of any railroad to COM
plain to the interstate commerce
commission about the rates of other
lines was urged. Regulation of rates
within states. as weh as interstate
rates, also was recommended for the
department of transportation"
Regional commissions" for the
-ontrol of local railroad problems
were advocated by Mr.. Cuyler.
Express rates should be dealt with
IN the same manner as freight rates"
he said.
There should be in the federal gov
ernment the exclusive governmental
power to supervise and authorize the
issue of securities by railroad car
riers engaged in interstate or foreign
commerce or by holding companies
controlling any carrier. according to
Mr.. Cuyler. Provisions should be
made for the funding by the United
States of Indebtedness of carriers to
its growing out of federal control"
he said.
Pledged MeAdoo Their Support.
Railroad executives have pledged
Director General McAdoo their CO.
operation and have urged him not to
relinquish federal control until con-
gress has had opportunity to iegis-
late. Mr.. Cuyler declared.
All Big Lines Included.
Mr.. Cuyler explained that the AS
sociation of Railway Executives rep
resented 80 per cent. of the railway
mileage of the country and included
virtually all big lines except the
Southern railway system.
Interstate Commerce Commissioner
Edgar r. Clark explained to the COM
nittee today that in his statement
xesssSlay urging that congress and
NOT the president should determine
when railroads are to be returned. 20
private control. he had not meant To-
rriticise congress for giving the pres
iaeni originally authority to relin-
n'li-h the roads at his will.