Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-18
PRESIDENT VETOES
/. BILL TO RESTORE
|. C. c. RATEPOWERS
Executive Says U. S. Would
Be Deprived of Necessary
Authority.

Dill restoring to the interstate COM
merce Commission it's pre-war rate d,
making power.
The Presidents veto messag- was
transmitted to the Senate, j.. Which
the bill originated
The President said tie immediate
effect of the proposed 'Aw would be to
deprive the federaL government of
the ability ito core promptly and de-
cisively with operating emergencies
which are now arising and must con-
tinue to arise during the existing
period of helry traffic.
Responsibility Involved.
'"r,.1s BILL" said the Presidents
message, "deprives the government of
the United States, while still charged
with the exclusive responsibility for
operating the railroads during federal
control, of any power to make any
change in any intrastate rates, fare.
charge, classification, regulation or
practice without having first secured
the approval of the proper state regu-
lating tribunals, whereas under the
federal control act as originally en-
acted the government of the United
States has the same power to deter
mine the intrastate matters as it had
to determine similar matters of an in
terState character.
The immediate effect of such a
change in the law would be to de-
prive the federal government of the
ability to cope promptly and decisive
ly with operating emergencies which
are now arising and must continue to
arise during the existing period of
heavy traffic
Recently the railroad administra-
ton found that refrigerator cars were
being unduly detained by consignees
at a time when there was urgent de-
mand for an enlarged transportation
use of such cars. The railroad ad
ministration was able substantially
and promptly to correct this situation
by the imposition of an emergency
charge.
Such a step could not have been
taken promptly if it had been neces-
Sary to consult also state authorities
throughout the Union.
Uniform Practice.
"Since the authorities of each state
would under this bill have the full
power to exercise an Independent
judgment, the probable result would
feet, to prevent any Uniform practice
at all. Notwithstanding the fact that
the federal government was the sole
operator of the railroads.. and as such
bond Etfhg ths intrastate operations.
as well as the interstate operations.
cat the present time the railroad
aamseisssas1aa ea 3 6 ssshrs Tie
HEAVIER loadinE Of cars with grain
and grain products SO as to meet
greater transportation of those COM
modities. If it should be necessary
to obtain the Independent Judgment
of each state tribunal, the delay
would probably be SO great as to de-
feat the purpose of the plan.
Power to Deal With Problems.
1.-THE matters 1 have mentioned are
illustrative of pressing practical
emergencies which must be dealt with
promptly if they are to be dealt with
effectively, and while the federal gov
eminent alone is responsible for rail-
road operation, it ought to have with
in itself the power to deal with these
problems.
1.-The practice of the railroad adj
ministration to secure the advice of
the Interstate Commerce Commission
upon matters of Importance reasonably
insures an adequate representation of
the public interest and avoids the di-
vided action and inevitable delay
thority should have exclusive and
final power as to regulation of all
matters of intrastate traffic within it's
borders.
"Beyond these pressing pra ctical ex-
igencies, feel that it is a far sounder
eral government power to raise the
revenue to operate the railroads when
the federal government alone is re-
sponsible for paying the bills for their
operation.
Suggestions From States.
"In a country or such great extent
1t is undoubtedly desirable to get the
fullest practical benefit of local ad-
vice upon local matters. and this is
equally as much to be desired in re-
spect of local Interstate rates and
practices in given portion of the
country as in respect of intrastate
rates and practices covering similar
extent in the same locality. 1t is the
policy and practice of the railroad ad-
ministration, which l heartily indorse.
to secure as far as practicable the full
benefit of the suggestions of the state
authorities, both as to lntrastate rates
and as to local interstate rates, but in
the last analysis, while the federal
government is solely responsible. it
seems to me that entirely Independent
and final power as to a large proper
ton of these vital matters should not
be transferred to the respective states.
1.-The broad question of general princi-
pie which l have just discussed might
perhaps be waived in view of the short
duration of federal control, but the prac-
teal emergencies to which have first
referred are matters with which the
federal government must deal day by
day in the discharge OF it's responsibility
and l do not think it's ability to deal
with them promptly and concIusive1y
should be impaired even during a brief
period of federal control
Principle Is Acceptable.
'"The leading principle of this BILL
which is to give the Interstate Com
provision thereon, to suspend rates,
practices, etc. initiated by the Presi-
dent, is entirely acceptable to me, al
though if in the future the bill should
be repassed / should hope to see some
notifications in detail which would
avoid attaching a presumption OF un-
reasonable Gas this bill appears to
do) to changes so initiated in rates,
practices. etc.
modification which would avoid any
possibility of bringing in question the
validity of orders which already have
been made by the railroad admins
tration in the discharge of it's respon-
sibility.
state commerce committee, author of
the bill, said it was not likely that
any attempt would be made to pass
the measure over the Presidents veto.
as the rate-making powers of the
commission would be restored when
the roads were returned to private
operation January l.
Senator Cummins said the Presi-
dents action was not surprise.
Republican Leader Mondell. APPROX
ing the Presidents veto of the bill re-
storing the rate-making powers of the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
"a id the measure should never have