The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-09

Washington, Jan. 9-Railroad rates
must go up. even under government
control, T.. Dewitt Cuyler, represent
ing the railroad executives, told the
interstate commerce committee today.
Higher rates will be necessary even
under government CONTROL" said Guy
Ter. II think the government will
have to raise the rates shortly
Washington, Jan. 9-Railroad in
terests today proposed that a secretary
of Transportation be added to the
presidents cabinet
This secretary would be in charge
of department of transportation with
powers to enforce unified operation OF
railroads, according to the plan out
lined by T. Dewitt Cuyler, spokesman
for railroad interests. before the SEN
ate interstate commerce committee.
Private ownership, management
and operation of the railroads should
continue, Cuyler said. but federal in
corporation should be compulsory.
What His Duties Should Be.
Functions of the secretary of trans
portation as recommended would in
clude:
Recommendations as to rates.
Determination of policies for i'm
proved transportation service.
Power to reroute traffic over vari-
Gus lines to relieve congestion.
Direction during war or serious
emergency" of all railroads as one ma
tional unit.
Control over all extensions and new
construction of lines and terminal
facilities.
Executive and administrative pow
ers of the interstate commerce COM
mission would be given over to the
transportation secretary. The COM
mission would continue to act as, a
quasi judicial body and would be in
charge of valuation and accounting.
For Complete Jurisdiction.
Federal jurisdiction must be COM
plete over both state and interstate
rates, Cuyier stated. But he proposed
a group of regional commissions, con-
sisting of one member from each state
! in the various regions, these commits
sions to have primary jurisdiction and
TACT as representatives of the interstate
commerce commission in hearing all
| complaints. Wage disputes would be
settled by a commission.
The railroad executives presented
| this plan as preferable solution of the
| railroad problem to the five-year test
period proposed by McAdoo and the
various other suggestions for govern
| ment operation, leasing of government
| owned railroads and for enlarged con-
troll by the interstate commerce com
| mission.
| To Cut States Out.
| Executives are strong in the belief
that state regulation must go and thai
the railroad problem is a strictly fed
era1 one. The regional system would
| merely distribute the work of the in.
| terState commerce commission an6
would not scatter any of the power
exercised by federal agencies, it was
pointed out.
| Power of regulation of the instru
| mentalities of interstate commerce. in.
| cludfng all rates, state and interstate
should be exclusively in the hands OF
| the national government" the state
ment submitted by Cuyler, outlining
| the railroad interests plans, declared
"a system Of federal incorporation
| should be adopted for all railroads
engaged in interstate and foreign com
merce," Cuyler stated.
/ A Compulsory System.
"Such systems should be compul
sorry and not elective. 1t should pro
vide a means of consolidation ant
merger for corporations engaged il
interstate or foreign commerce, will
the necessary power of condemnatio
provided the secretary of transporta
ton finds that such consolidation o
| merger is not contrary to the publi
| interests and can prove the same"
Shippers and state utilities commits
sions, the latter of whom would b.
faced with complete eclipse by tn
y n 70 r.