The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-01-08
Public Comes Into Its
Own in CuTnminS Bill

Special Dispatch 10 The Intelligence.
WASIINGTON. II. {. Jan. I--l'"rhaps
never before has the interest OF tn" pub.
lie been h-ld 80 continuously IN mlhd
a. in the "uurrptIun and perfection al
ihc railroad hll as passed by tn" senate.
II II shall hCCurn" q lnw substantially as
written III" People Will at least haze
come into Their own. me term lupll"
utility" has long been n mlSnomCr. Many
roads have been used more as private
utilities for Tn" creation of immense in
dINiduHl fortunes. Others haN" become
the bU't Of experiment by state lcElSla-
lures. with disastrous results TO thCm-
selves and the public. Tho roads as,
whole have come 10 he looked upon by
some employees As their own private
property. the bills to be paid by the
public. and the profits. II any. divided
between employees and public. Now I'M
der the terms Of IN" senate bull the
roads are to become In reality public
utilities and will be operated as such.
Throughout all the sections "t tho
senate railroad hin runs the definite idea
that the legislation has been conceived
and written for the benefit OF the people
as n whole. Every act Of the interstate
commerce commission and Of the trans
portatinn board, newly created by the
bin, is hedgcd about with the restrlc-
ton that II must conform TO Tho interest
Public Benefits
Hero are Few OF the instances where
specific mention IS made or the public
In making changes In rates and class
ifcAt!onS, the comn SSlon shall take in
to consideration the interests of tho
public"
The transportation board shall care
fully and continuously make inquiry Re-,
specting the transportation needs and
faCil ties of the whole country"
The board shall make to tn" commits
sion representation IN the public in
terest."
Thu board shall report to congress
measures tina: vii! promote AMI protect
the interest of the public.
Tn" hoard may rrQujr" tn" JOINT uSo
of terminals II It finds II To- lie N the
puh}lv interest"
III" commission may permit railway
consultations II II shall find tNlt the
publir interest will oe promoted by the
consolidation"
No railroad shall Issue any more
stocks and bonds unless II is "CUmrat-
iblc with the public interest"
\ railway corporation may b" DIS
solved IL II Is no longer necessary or
convenient TO the public interest.
The board may suspend existing chr
service rules in cmrrgen"l"S aud sub
st!tutr others in the interest 81 The
public and the Cummcrre Of thu people.
New Construction
No road shall enter upon new CON
struction unless public interest r"-
quires or Will require the constitution.
no ensuing Tpdu SHdlI Nv H'h'i"H'u
unless the present or future publ" IN
tcrcst permits such abandonment"
Railroad must provide itself with
more adequate facilities II u rs reason
ably necessary TO the public interest"
Commission may order division of
traffic n such way 'as will be IN tn"
interest of better service TO the public
Commission may simplify rate Schrd-
uleS If tho public VIII hc better IN
formed by so drinE.
Raj connexions between docks and
railroads shall b" made only when II
can be done with safety To- the public"
In dividing JOINT rates between I'artlC-
ipating carriers the commission must
consider 9TH" mpOrtuu"" of tn" carrier
to the public as II transportation uul-
ity."
In times OF emergency such t"mr"-
rary through routes may h" established
a. are necessary or DIS ,rabl" IN t."
public interest"