New-York tribune., 1920-02-28
/. C.. C.. Put ON Trial
By New Rail Bill,
Executives Assert
Believe Public Will Hold All
to Strict Accountability
Under Private Control

The success or failure of the Esch-
Cummins railroad bill will hinge on
whether the credit of the roads be-
: comes sufficiently improved to enable
them to perform their public duties.
This was the consensus of opinion
reached yesterday by the members
of the Association of Railway Execu-
tives at their last meeting before re-
sumption Of private ownership and
In summarizing the views of 125
railroad executives assembled in the
board room Of the New York, New
Haven G. Hartford Railroad at the
Grand Central Station, Alfred P
Thorn, general counsel OF the asso-
citation, declared that the act, the In
terstate Commerce Commission, the
several state commissions, the labor
unions and carriers themselves are
all now on trial.
THE Interstate Commerce Commits
sion is on trial" he added, "because
/. the powe rs conferred upon that body
by this bslf Are So enormous and 50
\ far-reaching that it viii become large
+ ly responsible for the success or the
= failure of the system of regulation.
"The state commissions are on trial
because if they hold back and refuse
to, cooperate with the Interstate Com
merce Comm lsslon in establishing
harmonious system of rates to apply
to both state and interstate commerce
OF the same carrier, they will inter
pose an obstacle in the way of the
success of the system for which pub
lie opinion viii hold them respon-
sible.
Unions Face Test
foh @..,
cause the government itself has Gre
ated an official agency for the fair
and equitable adjustment of all griev-
ances and of all controversies as to
wages and living conditions, and if, in
defiance Of the conclusions thus Off
clally reached, the labor organizations
unjustly and contrary to public opin-
ION, interrupt the orderly and continu-
GUS movement of interstate commerce,
upon which the welfare of the whole
public depends, they cannot expect to
ne sustained by the people, TO whose
will. at last. all must bow
"The carriers are on trial. because
an effort has been made to extend to
them help of substantial character
In the performance of their public
duties. and public opinion will hold
Ihem to strict accountability for the
fidelity and efficiency with which these
NutleS are perlOrmeQ.
y. Mr.. Them said that whatever differ
,cnces OF opinion may exist over the
adequacy, the desirablity or the va
Ildity of certain features of the bill
there must be universal recognition
,Df the high and patriotic purpose of
athose, in Congress chiefly responsible
for the legislation"
e Roads Choose Officials
-. The railroads continued to prepare
for the return of the roads to private
ssnpcration by electing executives that
swili be in charge Of operations. Roads
ssThat reelected the principal officials
who served under the railroad admins
stration included the Chicago, Milwau-
kee & st. Paul; the Pittsburgh & West
Virginia, the Carolina, Cinchfield &
Ohio and the Delaware, Lackawanns
AM Western.
julie M. Hanaford, who has been Fed
seral manager of the Northern Pacific
sewill resume the presidency. and How.
ard Elliott, who has been president
becomes chairman of the board
5sCharies Hayden moves up to the chair
mansn'p OF the Rock Island from the
presidency while j. f. German, wht
.shas been Federal manager. become,
s.president again. N'''S
- y; ~ Brown resigned as presiden
ssod the Pere Marquette. retaining tn,
,TT"ce or chairman of the board. Franl
~. Alfred, Federal manager Of tn,
Gompany's line under Federal contros
was elected president and general man
sager the office that he held prior t.
that period. W. f. Martin resigned a
{reasurer and was elected assistan
treasurer. j. l.. Cramer was electe,
'v'ce-president. treasurer and assistan
secretary. Seward L. Merriam wa
elected general counsel.