The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-28
ROAD EXECUTIVES VO|CE. APPROVAL
 OF RAIL MEASURE
Predict Success If Credit of Roads Is Sufficient for Performance of Pub
 lie Duties
sy Associated Pre-.

New York, February 2I-Approval of the railroad bill now awaiting action by the President was expressed at meet ing here today of exefutives representing approximately % per cert of the coun- try's railways, who discussed the pro- visions of the bfl in connection with the esumption of private ownership on March l. In a statement issued at the close of the meeting the executives predicted that the proposed Legislation would be suc- cessful if the credit of the carriers :s made sufficient to enable them to perform their public duties
 According to the executives, the raii- ways are approximately five years be- hind in operating equipment as a whole and sufficient credit musJ first be estao- uahed before the carriers could besin the task of overcoming that deficit IL was estimated that the roads gre three years behind m passenger cars two years pe- hind in locomotives, one year behind ih freight cars and two years behind in Pullman carf ana under the pro, isions of the bill. every aeeney connected with the operation ot rauwavs is upon trial the statement said. It continued:
 The Legislation marks new departule an the part of Congress in It's pohcles with respect to regulating the ihspru- ,,antalities of interstate commerce. yvhatever differences cf opinion may sxIst as 10 the adequacg, the desirabiiitS or tba validity of some of the provisions. ,h.ra must be universal recognition or the high and patriotR purpose of those ir Congress chiefly responsible Tor the lasislation. They were undoubtedly con trolIed by an earnest desire 10 create q constructive and workable netnoo oi -s.,,ia tion under which the instrumentali~ .,ss ~ commerce. upon which all business s.,,st depend shall be supported and pro- .actea in their effort to establish and ,,s ssintain an adequate and efficient sys- tenn of transportation.
 1'rbe government policy of the future u,fll no doubt. depend upon the success of the experiment now made
 TO TEST ACT
 ..,rbs act itself is about to enter upon tia .tsst period If, under the system wbich if establishes, the credit of the car r;srs ia made sufficient to enable them 10 nersorn, their public duties. the legisia- t,on will by universal concession. be success If. on the other hand, such credit Is not established, the legislation will be failure
 Tn addition 10 the act tno iueei commerce commission, the several state commissions. the labor unions and the carriers themselves are all on trial
 ''The interstate commerce commission Ia on trial because the powers conferred upon that body by this bili are so encrm- ous and 90 far reaching that it will be- com. largely responsible for the success or future of the system of regulation.
 'sThs state commissions are on trial because if they hold back and refuse to cooperate with the interstate commerce commission in establishing . harmonious system of rates to apply to both stats and Interstate commerce of the sarne car Tier, they will intsrpose an obstacle In the way of tho success of the system fug
 (csntiAuel sa rage rwsD