New-York tribune., 1919-01-31
Opposition to Unsettled Con
ditions of Present Time
Given as Main Reason
Would Divide Problems
Pressing Legislation Urged
Upon Congress- Now: lhc
Remainder to Go Over
Nee lo,'h Trihlue
l{.-J ..4f.,., JYt..-..l.,y

WASHINGTON, Jan so. -Four rea-
sons are behind the opposition Of the
state public utilit commissions tc
the Administration proposal 10 con
tinue government control of the rail
roads for five years after peace is de
clared, according to testimony given to-
day before the Senate Interstate Com
merce Commission by Charles +. Elm
quist. president of the National Asso-
citation Of Railway and Utilities Com
missioners.
These reasons he gave as follows:
/. The tive-year plan continues the
present guaranteed compensation of
practically S10O0,00O,0 600 per annum
to the railroads for period of five
years, as we'll as the prospect OF the
present high operating cost. No one
can foresee what the operating eco
nomic or financial situations o. these
carriers or the country viii be dur
ing this period.
,. II continues i'm time OF peace the
alleged war power OF the Pres dent
TO set aside state and Federal laws,
traffic and consolidate properties and
terminals
3. Il continues the uncertain and
chaotic conditions OF rates and prac-
ices whereby shippers are denied
the right to be heard before rotes go
into effect; and it purportS to sus-
pend, for the period OF five years.
laws which have been wisely passed
in the states for the regulation OF
common carriers. During this time
shippers, claimants and state officers
may be required TO bring action
against the federal government in
steod of against the railroads.
Urges Valuation First
!. 1t thrusts prominently into the
public forum discussion OF govern
ment ownership before the work OF
valuing these properties has been
completed by the government and be
fore it is possible to know what the
railroad properties are worth. Com
man business sense suggests the
wisdom of ascertainlng the sum IN
VOWED in the purchase before decid-
ing the question.
Mr.. Elmquist demanded on behalf Of
the association he represents that the
whole railroad problem be divided by
Congress into questions as to what
must be imediately done, and what can
be disposed Of by the next Congress n
The way of the establishment Of per-
manent policy of railroad regulation.
Like Clifford Thorne, who spoke for the
shippers. the witness urged that Con
gress before March amend the Fed
eral control act so as 10 revoke the
right Of the President to set aside the
state or Federal laws; restore the rate
making power OF the Interstate Com
merce Comission and the state commits
sions and restore the local police pow
ers of the state commissions.
Making it plain that he stood alone
in his views among members OF state
commissions generally, Lawrence b
Finn, chairman OF the State Railroad
Commission Of Kentucky. argued before
the committee in favor Of outright GOV
ernment ownership and operation OF
the railroads as permanent nstitu
ton. Describing himself as "the self
constituted unpaid representative o.
the unorganzed public Mr. Finl
charged that the railroad executives
employed by the railroad administra
tion to operate the roads had operated
them in such way as TO discredit gov
ernment ownership and operation
These executives. he told the commit
tee, we're IN the impossible position @