New-York tribune., 1919-01-25
MISSIONS over the railroads of the

missions over the railroads of Me
United States.
This can be accomplished in a very
simple manner by striking out few
Ilnes and inserting one or two SEN
eehces IN Section 10 of the railroad
control law. We are gravely appre-
nshslve whether we can command your
attention to this subject sufficiently
20 get immediate action, when your
whole discussion, up to the present
moment, has centred upon question
Oh larger and more fundamental char
acter concerning the permanent solu-
ton OF the transportation problem-a
question of vast Importance, but one
that cannot possibly be settled during
this session of Congress-.
our proposition, however. can be
settled now. And unless this is done
the shippers of the country will suffer
lncaiculable injury. We may differ on
many things, such as the relative
functions of the state and Federal
governments, the pooling of earnings,
mergers and consultations which may
tend to eliminate competition in SER
vlce, the control of capitalization by
the Federal government, or by the
state; but | believe that I am safe in
saying that the vast majority of the
shippers Of the United States are
united in urgently pctitioning for i'm
mediate action on the proposition which
| have stated
1--WE believe that all other discus
SION might we'll be temporarily sus-
pended for few days so as to make
possible the immediate consideration
of this issue. Unless you decide to
do this, nothing will be accomplished
by the present Congress. For ship
pers, railway representatives., state
commissioners, labor spokesmen, and
reformers generally, can talk for the
next six months continuously about
the many propositions which have been
suggested to you already by the rail
road executives and by the Interstate
Commerce Commission, to say nothing
of those yet to come. You, yourselves,
can reach no conclusion on this funda-
mental question inside of six months.
The transportation. problem forced
upon US at this time will inevitably
become one of the leading issues, if
not the greatest, before the Anne erican
people during the coming twelve
months.
Asks Advice Be Taken
"It is essential that this amendment
effect during this interval while you
are considering the ultimate dis
position of the railroads; for other
wise during the next few months
many sweeping, wholesale changes in
rates, rules and regulations now pend
ing will be consummated; and these
changes have no connection whatco-
ever with the war against the Kaiser
"In the light of past experience, we
earnestly beg of you to accept the
word of no man as to the manner OF
the extent that these powers will be
exercised in the future. When this
told that the power to control rates
during the time of Federal possession
ought not to be exercised and would
not be exercised except in such cases
as might be necessary in the public
interest You were told that 1T would
be very unwise for the Federal gov
ernment to undertake through the
Director General of Railroads who
merely represents the President in
this control-to pass upon all the
rates in the country, either dc noUo,
or as questions may arise concerning
them transcript of the hearings be-
fore the House committee, page 78).
And yet the fact remains thaat one Of
the first acts Of the Director General
was to pass upon all tho rates in the
country, and at the present time the
Director General is passing upon rates
from one end of the nation to the other,
and making orders that will not affect
to the slightest degree the successful
prosecution of the war against autoc-
racy in Europe.
"The temptation was too great for a
staff composed almost wholly of rail
road men.
"The Director General of Railroads
has exercised and is now proposing to
exercise arbitrary, despotic powers, in
defiance of the common law and the
statutory law of the country.
"The Director General has decided,