Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-03-01
STATE RESUMES
RAILROAD
With the Transfer to Private
Ownership Corporation Com
mission Regains Authority.
RAISE IN RATES AND FARES
President Stevens, of the c. & O.,
Announces Appeal to Inter
state Commerce Commission.
RAISE IN RATES AND FARES

When at 1901 O'clock this morning
the railroads OF the country were re-
turned TO the control of their owners.
theE were also placed in the main
under State supervision.
Under the terms of the rail bill as
approved by President Wilson Satur
day night. State authorities are to have
complete control of public service
through their comm ssions. This again
places in the hands of the state Cor
porat!on Commission authority TO de-
eide questions of train service, station
facilities, Sidetracks, crossings and ali
Jurisdiction given that body by the
nirEinia Constitution and laws as en-
crcis. q eefore war conditions resulted
IN government operation.
The change locally occurred quietly.
praetieally al officers under the gov
under new titles and on different nav
rolls The wcll-oilcd wheels of prog
ress never ceased pending tho tech
meal chanSe In ownership.
Must Ask for Higher Rates.
In the opinion Of railroad officials
mere, however, it Will be necessary for
the roads to make Immediate appIica-
ton to the Interstate Commerce Com
MISSION for an increase in passenger
ana 1reight rates TO meet the present
cost OF materials and operation in adj
5usting the transfer of the roads back
10 cnnra private ,t, ,to,wntership Gtp and eontrol.
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, de-
clared that it would be necessary for
tne roads to make application for an
operating costs and to bring the roads
to a standard of efficiency to meet
present demands for service.
p ;n6 ;N66rmaa Call. vice. sident of the
mac Railroad, speaking, in reference to
tne supnosition that Increased freight
hses 1hs wi be necessary said last night
into this matter, sufficiently to state
dehn itely. what action viii be taken.
w: Fl. Waite, president OF the com
panE, was III last night, and could not
be rcaclied. NIr. Call stated that at
present the officials OF the company arc
gathering data concerning the need OF
increased freight rates. and the result
of. their findings will govern any action
taken.
Must Apply 10 I. c. G..
Application for increased rates must
be made directly to the Interstate Com
merce Commission. Congress-. in order
TO stabilize. railway revenues in the
immediate future, provided in the
DO changed by state commissions prior
10 September / of this year without
the consent OF the Interstate Com
neLGG 1ookinc iommission. ln,h No r:aehinery
the law. and 1t must be worked out
between tho Interstate Commerce Com
mission ana state commissions
After September /, the state Cor
nora Commission will have juris-
diction over intrnstate rates in Eir-
ginia. subject only to the proviso that
Such rates must not constitute Il bur-
den on Interstate commerce.. BY this
provision Congress did not change the
existing status. but only wrote into
the United States Supreme Court in
tho Shreveport case.
Merger Just In Time.
The new act says that hereafter,
when a corporation or Individual seeks
railroad or the public desires an OK
tention OF an existing linc. or when a
vice over part of it's line and abandon
same. or when two lines desire TO
merge. application must be made. 10
which notifies the Governor OF the
State or States affected. and a public
hearing is held locally, at which State
This takes out Of the hands Of State
authorities supervision over mergers
or consultations OF railroads. 1t ap-
the washington Southern RaiIway ~ into
the Richmond fredericksburg and
Potomac Railroad been delayed week
these properties could, had they been
so minded. arrange any plan Of ner-
ger they desired and could induce the
Interstate Commerce Commission to
accept regardless of the States inter-
est in the Richmon nd Washington sys-
TEN.
Commission and not the interstate
Commerce Commission. will hereafter
have Jurisdiction over the construction
team, s%itehing m ana spdd sidetraees. ePs.F'a" io
Gated wholly within the state. and OF
street. suburban and electric railways.
now bin Intends to. leave the subject
mainly in the hands OF the railroads
by their own regulations or agree
',iH in times Sc OF emergency ] Viii there o"bs be
any governmental orders. Carriers are
required to make just and reasonable
and in times of car shortage the rail
delivered 70 every mine. Provided,
nothing in tn this IS act shall impair or 'iaf az
feet the right OF n State, in the cSer-
else OF it's police power. to require
senEcr service. for intrastatc business,
except in so far as such requirement
is inconsistent with any lawful order
Of the Interstate Commerce Commis
act"
Lines Plan Improvements.
President Stevens last night stated
freight cars, we'll as a number OF
engines and other facilities, while rhe
government had the road under con-
troll. When asked concerning the con-
dition OF the road and tho effect of
government control he referred 20 the
additions and improvements during
government operation at the expense
of tho corporation, declaring that
these improvements Will be an asset
to the owners in resuming control, and
that Tho government would assume
responsibility for any deterioration
growing out OF It's operation. accord
roads go back to private ownership.
Many improvements in service are
planned by tho Richmond. Frederlcks-