The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-01-07
Railroads Should. Be Owned
and Operated by Pri-
vate Parties
INTERSTATE COM
MERGE COMM. SAYS
Advocates a Broadened and
Amplified Government
Regulation

Washington, D. c., Jan. 7.-Opposition
to government ownership or operation
OF railroads at this time was expressed
to-day by the interstate commerce com
mission, in a statement presented to the
Senate interstate committee at its hear
ing on railway legislation, by Commits
sion Edgar Il. Clark
Considering and weighing as best we
can all Of the arguments for and against
the different plans" said the statement,
I'VE are led to the conviction that with
the adoption of appropriate provisions
and safeguard for remunerations under
private ownership, ii would not be wise
or best at this time to assume govern
ment ownership or operation Of the rail
ways Of the country.
The commission declared, however,
that "a reasonable period Of readiust-
ment or preparation" should be allowed
before REIMBURSEMENT Of federal con-
troll, 1T seems obvious" said the state
ment, that no plan of private owner
ship should be considered unless it is
under broadened, extended and amph-
fled government regulation"
the recommendation against continuation
Of government control and advocated
adoption Of Director General MeAdoo's
suggestion for extension Of federal man
agement.
The commission presented detailed
program of proposed legislation in case
railroads are returned to private man.
agement, providing for strict regulation
by the government Of rates, services,
finances, security issues and pooling Of
facilities and Qualification Of doubtful re-
lationship between federal and state au-
thority.
Supporting the argument for return Of
railroads TO private management, the
commissions statement says:
"The law provides for federal control
shall not continue beyond 2l months aft
er the promulgation Of a treaty OF peace
The wisdom Of thus providing a reason.
able period after the passing of the i'm.
peratiye necessity of our government in
actual prosecution of warfare, within
which to resdjust or make preparations
for readjustmeut Of traffic conditions and
TO round out or prepare financial ar.
lrangements, is hardly open TO question
Carriers properties formerly eOmpos
ing system are now under the jurisdic.
tion Of two or more regional directors o.
federal managers, the current of traffic
has IN some instances been materially
changed and financial complications exist
Comparatively few contracts for compen.
sation have been perfected being the
transportation companies and the gov,
ernment.
Our expression in favor Of return tc
private ownership and operation is there
fore to be understood as favoring a re-
turn of the properties in precipitatt
way. A reasonable period Of readUst.
ment or preparation should be afforded
and reasonable notice should be giver
that upon given date the properties will
be restored to their owners
"Manifestly, from a social standpoint
as well as from the standpoint of the
nature of the employment and because Of
the great Importance to the public as
we'll as to the railroads of loyal and de.
voted service ON the part of the employees
the railroad employees should be ade
quately compensated.
The commission then set forth recon-.
mendations for legislative action.
First, said the statement, there should
be revision of limitations upon united
or cooperative activities among common
carriers by rail and by water" Support.
| ing this suggestion, the commission said:
obviously competition between car
riers that il wasteful or unnecessarily
expensive lays an added burden upon the
rate payers. Elimination of wastefuI OF
unduly expensive competition in rates oI
service is desirable"
Railroads should be permitted to merge
and consolidate after thorough investiga.
tion and hearing and only by sanction Of
the governmental regulating body, tht
commission says, and this tribunal should
have authority to prescribe both max
| imum and minimum rates