Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-10-14

ton of railroads is a failure" Presi-
dent Elmquist said. Public service
commissioners face several trying
years Regulating officials, Federal
state and municipal, have their work
cut out for them. Only a more COM
plete understanding on the part of
all concerned will result in n bet
terment of conditions"
Railroads should be returned to
their owners and the telephone and
telegraph companies should be kept
outside the Jurisdiction of the In
terstate Commerce Commission for
the present, at least, declared Gov
ernor James p. Goodrich, of Indiana,
in an address.
Governor Goodrich said he could
find no reason for delay in turning
back the railroad property to its
owners, once Congress has provided
a method of control and arranged to
compensate them for equipment
ment purchased by the Federal ad-
ministration and not necessary in
peace time operation and for other
losses incident to the governments
seizing the properties.
Governor Goodrich also urged
that Americans be encouraged to
establish business branches through
out the world. It was his opinion
that the United States merchant
fleet be extended so as to cover the
trade routes to every country. He
also expressed the opinion that the
Federal government should license
corporations doing an interstate and
foreign business and lay down rules
by which their business should be
conducted.
War as Well as Peace
Enactment of legislation to insure
transportation adequate to national
needs in time of war as well as in
peace was the policy outlined to-day
by Clyde b. Aitchison, chairman of the
Interstate Commerce Commission, in
his speech before the Commissioners.
In times OF great national stress.
declared Chairman Aitchison, wheth-
er due to war or other emergency,
the constituents of the transporta-
tion system of the country must be
capable of prompt mobilization and
operation as a single unit To ac-
complish this, he said, is one of the
highest offices of the national law
making body.
Discussing the various plans for the
future operation of the railroads, Mr.
Aitchison said there must be a far
greater degree of unification and
utilization of facilities, terminals and
equipment than ever before and that
future railway construction should
be limited to that which is necessary
and convenient for governmental pur-
poses and the public. Provision for
the most efficient utilization of equip
ment after private operation is re-
sumed is important.
U. s. Should stand Behind
a -
wasteful competition. the speaker
recommended a national regulating
body which would have power to
prescribe the minimum rate as well
as the maximum. This authority. he
said, has long reposed in many of the
state regulating tribunals, but has
never been vested in the Interstate
Commerce Commission. Also a modi-
fication of the present plan of district
traffic committees, under the direc-
ton of public authority. may be nee
essary as a stabliZing influence dur
Ing the readJustment stage following
Federal control that the carriers and
the country may be spared the bur
den of anything approaching a rate
war.
Touches Labor Situation
With the return of the properties
and until the corporations have had
an opportunity to make their own
adjustments. 1t seems reasonable. Mr..
Aitchison said. that the government
should stand behind unavoidable
losses from operation. on the ground
that to large extent the increased
costs constitute direct cost of the
war and should be borne as such,
Regarding the labor situation, the
speaker declared that legislation
must be provided to insure a speedy
and adequate means of enforcing the
Just demands of employees, but that
at the same time the country is en-
titled to protection against the irri-
trievable damage which must follow
If either party to the dispute insists
upon being the final judge of the
justice of its own cause and stops the
wheels of commerce