New Britain herald., 1919-07-01
|kEMEb|Al
 LEGISLATION
Chamber Of Commerce l lSt Hare
 Votes in by Saturday

In order that the business men of the city may discuss and vote on the referendum sent out by the national chamber Of commerce On remedial legislation, the New Britain chamber has sent to it's members some 400 copies of the official recommendation submitted by the committee at Wash ingtOn.
 Ballots should be in the chambers hands not later than Saturday. The chamber directors yesterday reserved their vote until after the general meeting which was authorized at the open night gathering last week. This will be called for members and friends early next week at the chamber rooms, where a full discussion and vote will be taken. This same pro- cedure is being carried out in every Connecticut town where there is a chamber of commerce in order that the national chamber of commerce at Washington may have intelligent judgment of men all over the country as to how business interests of the United States feel regarding the rail- road problem now before congress.
 The chamber of commerce of the United States of America, referendum
  medial railroad legislation, have re- Quested individual or local chambers to vote in favor or in opposition of the above.
 This is a question that has been considered by congress, the senate, the interstate commerce commission and all of the state commissioners from time to time, and opinion is di- vided.
 The resolution adopted, known as the Ransom resolution, in the latter part of 1918, resolved that:
 In the opinion of the National association of hallway and utilities commissioners, in annual convention during the week {of the close of the war, deemed it desirable that suitable action should forthwith be taken by the president or the director general of railroads to recognize the full and unimpaired authority of the states over the intrastate rates, service, and facilities of the carrier properties now under federal control; and, fur ther that the president and congress should consider legislation defining the future status of the railroads and should fully safeguard the powers of local tribunals responsible to the peo- pie of the several states, in respect to rates, service, and facilities essential ly intrastate in scharacter.
 The above eXtrasct from the Ransom resolution is quoted, as it would ap- pear from the resolution that the pub lie utilities commissions, as far as in- trastate rates are1 concerned, where they affect or are aEfactor in the mak- ing of intrastate rafes, may very well be under federal control which l.
 commerce commission will have Jurisdiction over the rate making. and it would appear, in cases of conflict between state comm miSsions and the interstate commerce commission, that it would be desirable for the inter- state commerce commission to have the final say as to intsastate rates. where they affect the interstate rates.
 This subject was considered pre- viously and hearings were held by a joint congressional committee known as the NeWlands committee, on senate joint resolution so. The questions considered were as follows:
 Subject of government control and regulation of interstate land foreign commerce.
 The. efficiency of the existing system in protecting the rights of shippers and carriers and in promotine the public interest.
 The incorporation or control of the incorporation of carriers.
 All proposed changes in the organi- zdllon or the interstate commerce commission ana the act to regulate commerce.
 Government ownership of public utilities.
 Comparative worth and efficiency ot government regulation and control os compared with governm ent ownership and operation.
 There was apparently no decisive action taken by the NewIands com mlttee on these particular subjects. the war no doubt interfering with the activities of all these subjects inc government having takes over the oD- eration of the carriers. ,
 The question of legislation is now before congress, and these matters are entitued to, and should be given se;< ous consldefatlon Dy local chambers and other organizations, who here have an opportunity of voicine the opinion of the business \ men of tho various communities and} states It would seem that the question is ono that does not, in any way affect tho powers of the state public service or ulllltles commissions, except in so far as the rates under consideration affect the revenue of the carrier& apD1ica ble