Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1919-05-21

President of the Northern Pacific Rail-
way Company; Chairman OF the Com
the New York. New. Haven, and Hart
ford Railroad Company, and mem
Der Of the Standing Committee Of the
- Association Of Railway Executives.
s I cannot believe that human nature
and the art of government have devel
oped sufficiently to make government
ownership and operation successful.
believe that embarking on the sea
of government ownership and opera
ton involves risk of wreck, not only
to the railroad system of the United
States, but to some of the fundamental
theories of American life and effort
, that have made us great nation.
The American railroad system has
been created almost entirely through
the tireless energy of the American
citizen who has been at liberty to use
his splendid individual initiative and
who took the risks of business in the
hope that he would have the rewards
of success. Growth and development
of the system were continuous until
methods of regulation failed to re-
spond promptly to changed condi-
tions.
The railroad executives are as earn
est, sincere, and patriotic as any class
of citizens in their efforts to suggest
basis for the ownership, operation,
and regulation of the roads that will
be just to owner, shipper, traveller,
and worker, reflect promptly changed
conditions, and keep pace with the
growth Of the country. These execu-
tives have set down certain principles
that they belive ought to be incor
porated in the legislation the new
Congress will soon consider.
Their suggestions are based. on
belief
That it is better for the country
that the furnishing of transportation
be function of business rather than
a function of government. ~
That every reasonable precaution
should be taken to preserve the ener-
gy and initiative of the American citi-
zen, and that there should be allowed
reasonable liberty of action.
That reasonable regulation, but not
management and operation, by State
and nation is necessary and desirable,
and that in all cases of doubt or dia-
greement the nation must be the dom
inant regulating authority over State,
county, and municipality.
That under private ownership and
management conservation of railroad
facilities, service, and credit can be
obtained by the common use OF prop
erty when such use is clearly in the
public interest.
That in order to obtain the results
needed for the protection and devel-
Opment of the nation it will be neces-
sary to change and modify some prac-
tees and ideas that have long prevail
ed. The owners must assent to Fed
eral control, but they should also have
Federal protection and encourage
ment. The great labor organizations
must assent to some orderly way of
settling disagreements over wages
and working conditions, so that the
railroads will continue to serve the
public pending the adjustment of dis
putes. The Government, in it's regu-
lating practices, must be more re-
sponsive to changed conditions, and
there must be protection of this great
industry as we'll as regulation, and
there must be no twilight zone be-
tween national and State authority.
A summary of the suggestions of
the railway executives is as follows
Ownership, management, and opera
ton by private owners rather than by
Government.
Regulations as to all essential ma t.
tiers, including rates, both State and
interstate, to be by the Federal Gov
eminent, which shall control in case
of conflict with States.
Establishment of a Department of
Transportation, with a secretary who
shall be a member of the President 8
Cabinet
Placing in the Department of Trans
portation various executive duties
such as the enforcement of the Safety
Appliance Act, the Hours of Service
Law, etc., and relieving the Interstate
Commerce Commission of all such
duties except those relating to &C.
counts and valuation, thus making it
quasi-judicial body, with ample time
to deal with the great questions OF
discrimination, relations, and reason
ableness of rates, etc.
State commissions to be retained
with powers of local regulation except
as to rates and securities. Regional
interstate commerce commissions to
be created. upon which will be a re-
p. oseutative from each State in a re-
gion. This will enable prompt action
by local tribunals near to each State
and community for local matters
More important matters, national in
scope, to be handled by the Interstate
Commerce Commission and the Score
terry OF Transportation. The jurisdic
ton of the several bodies to be car
fully defined and harmOnized.
The rates, both State and interstate
established by the Director Genera
to remain in effect until changed by
lawful process. The establishment
by Congress of the rule that rates
shall be adequate to attract to the
railroad business the capital needed
to give the public the facilities ani
service they demand. Also requiring
that, when it is in the public interes
to have increased rates in order tt
have adequate facilities and service
e the influence of the Administration
through the Secretary of Transports
. ton, shall be used to that end. Thu
carriers to initiate rates subject tt
: suspension by the Secretary of Trans
portation and to review by the inter
> state Commerce Commission. Thu
Commission to have the power upol
complaint to fix minimum as we'll a.
maximum rates.
= Amendment of the Sherman Anti
Trust Act so as to permit mergers
combinations, and other agreement
that will mean conservation of capita
and service and elimination of waste
4 Such agreements, however, to becom
effective only when in the public in
terest and when approved by Fedora
authority: q
Prohibition of lockout and strike
ut,nnil Investigation and report. so tina