Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-01-29
The Esck and Cammins Bills
as Seen BY Ex-President Taft


(Wiilism howard To
The Each railroad bill. originatinS
In the house of REPRESENTATIVES, -
understood to have been drafted un-
der the suggestion OF tho Interstate
commerce commission. Certainly
the commissioners are proper ad-
visers as to how their powers need
rounding out TO make their supervis-
DRY regulation more effective. Such
suggestions have been Incorporated
both in the Esch and the Cummins
bills. A notable addition of this kind
is a section vesting the commission
with power to defeat a state rate-fix-
Ing board In an effort. by Its local
rates. to prevent competition by cities
out OF the state for trade In the state.
In respect To khe question OF general
reconstruction OF the railway system.
II Il doubtful whether the Interstate
commerce commission Ia 20 wise an
advisor. All men hate TO cive ND or
divide authority. Some of the difficult
ties Of the railway situation were GER
tainly due to the reluctance OF the
commission to give to the carriers
adequate advances in rates. The re-
versal OF this policy by the railroad
administration and the absolute need
for 1t as shown In subsequent opera
tons. are matter of history. The old
system of regulation and rate-fStng
had nearly broken the railways down.
A radical change is needed. The COM
mission should be given hxed
standard of action different from that
pursued In the past, The Esch bill,
under the influence of the commission,
fails TO recognize this need.
Bills Provisions.
The bill provides direct govern
ment guaranty OF a railway operating
income 10 each carrier for six months
equal to the average of It's income FOR
three corresponding periods OF six
months during the year ending June
so, 1911. 1t furnishes new loans TO
railways for the transmission period
of two years after the termination OF
federal control. II creates railway
labor adjustment board. with elaborate
provisions for hearing Questions ar1s-
ing as to wages and other terms of
service. II makes the carrier and any
union liable TO a suit for damages for
a breach of contract or hire or OF a
contract modified by the adjustment
board of the board of labor appeals.
II adds some 70 the regulatory power
Of the board. especially in the matter
Of supervising the issue of new rail-
wav securitie. and Of restraining in
reference with its own system OF in
terstate rates by state commissions
thru conflicting state rates already re-
ferred to.
A Tenporizine Measure.
II Is a bill that merely temporiZes
with the situation. II increases the
duties Of the interstate commerce
commission and attempts TO meet
them by making two additional COM
missioners. But II leaves the situa-
ton very much a. it was before the
railroads were taken over. and II ofrers
little. if any, hope that the conditions
will be as good after the two years or
the transition period as it was before
the government operation began. The
same old method OF piling more duties
upon the commission. which two addi-
tional members will not enable 1t
promptly to discharge, and the same
topelessness IN the prospect. make II
reasonably certain that under this Dill
the railroads will not be substantially
any more efficient than they were
before the war, There Is nothing IN
the bill 70 ATTRACT the investment Of
new capital and the reconstruction
that is absolutely essential to the
roads II they Are to serve their legi-
I innate purpose.
! The Contrast.
| The contrast between the ambitious
! courage OF the Cumnnins bill to give
up a system proven Ineffective and 70
enact radical changes for the better,
on the one hand. and the adherence
| to old failures on the Esch bill. on the
other. is only too apparent when both
| bills are read.
! The primary rule that the public
must pay adequate compensation TOR
service and the consequent induce
mert 70 new investment in railroads.
! the eaualizing of excessive dividends
and impossible deficits between the
stronger and the weaker, but neces-
sary. roads, the ultimate union OF
! oranization proposes Se5, 900. 900 drive