The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1921-03-30
FEDERAL CONTROL OF
RAIL PLAN URGED
WarfieId Outlines Scheme He
Says is Necessary 10 Avoid
U. S. Ownership

Washington, March 26.--Advanc-
ed methods in conducting railroad
transportation, which 1t is stated
will produce far-reaching results,
will insure annual savings Of mil
lions of dollars, increase facilities
and service and lower railroad fares
and rates, are outlined in plans
which will be fled with Senator A.
B. Cummins, Chairman of the Sena-
ate Committee on Interstate Com
merce. by S. Davies Warfield, Presi-
dent OF the National Association of
Owners of Railroad Securities.
In separate letter to Senator
Cummins, Mr.. Warfeld points out
/ that unless intensive economical
methods in railroad administration
| are adopted there is no alternative
but Government operation, followed
by Government ownership, although
the country has given overwhelming
evidence of being opposed to 1t.
The plan calls for the organiza-
ton, by act of Congress, of the Ma
tional Railway Service as an agency
first-to purchase cars and other
equipment to be furnished to the
railroads on an economical basis,
without profit; and second-as the
means for co-ordinating facilities
and service.
The plan briefly summarized pro-
vides:
'(a) The Interstate Commerce |
Commission to select five from |
among its members to constitute the
Service Division. This division to
have supervision and initiatory and
regulatory powers to be exercised
through the board or staff of the Ma
tional Railway Service.
"(b) A board of forty members
subdivided into two divisions-Fi-
nance and Administrative and Rail-
road Officials-twenty members
each. A Chairman, four Vice Chair
men, Treasurer, Secretary and other
officials. An Executive Committee of
eleven members.
"(c) Four group railway boards,
each organized and selected from
and by each group of railroads as
now constituted by the commission
in each of the four-rate territories
into which the commission has di-
yided the country. Four boards in
all, each to consist of seven members
five selected by the railroads of each
group and two from the shippers
located in each group territory.
(The twenty officials forming these
our boards will serve as the Rail-
way Officials Division of the Nation
II Railway Service Board.)
"(d) Ten committees of five
members each to cooperate with
ZACH of the four group boards and
elected from the railroads of each I
,roup. This means four group rail-
way boards and forty committees in q
IL. These committees will cover a II
arge range of investigation and c
eport. a
Included in which are: Normal II
quipment requirements of each .
abroad; additional equipment to be II
eased from the National Railway D
ervice; Standardization of equip q
lent; useless expenditures incident
} wasteful competition; a study of
pint use of terminals, yards and
hop facilities; surplus property not
aquired in legitimate transporta- a
on-cOst Of carrying; purchase of W
lei and supplies; application of a st
of efficiency in railroad in
perations; working conditions, cf
ages, &C., F.
"(e) The National Railway Ser be
ce Corporation recently organized st
: the Association of Security own
s to furnish equipment to the car
ers by conditional sale or lease is
perseded by the National Railway
'rvice with extended powers for u
lancing and leasing equipment la
lder plans 1t is said will save many un
illion dollars in preventing dupli- co
ton of equipment by the carriers, to-
wv necessary when each carrier is to
CURED to buy its maximum equip CO
ent requirements. (The twenty wi
ustees of the Service Corporation TO-
ii serve as the Finance and Ad-
Illustrative Division of the National
lilway Service Board.)