The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
 THE HOUR IS AT HAND

THE HOUR IS AT HAND
 With the election of a Democrat to the chairmanship of the senate inter- state commerce committee, the Demo- cratic senators acted very gracefully in acceding to the retention of Sena- tor Cummins as committee member. It is true that Senator Cummins, as former chairman of that committee, is ine principal measure responsible for the enactment of the transportation act, which is to be the object of att tack and probable amendment this session. but it is equally true that Sem ator Cumnrins has an unparalleled fund of knowledge regarding trans- portation problems. The committee may very we'll avail itself of this store of information, for there is no more costly process than such turnover in talent as sacrifices the training and experience of men who have had ex- ceptional opportunities for study of specific problems. That is one req son why our government is 50 waste full and inefficient. It changes men in pivotal positions too often, for po- litical rather than for substantial req sons. Besides, the conservative MT. Cummins will act as a safety balance to the radical LaFollette influence. Chairman Smiths deduction that the committee will ''handle railroad legis- lation sanely," should also have reas- surfing effect.
 With characteristic preparedness, no sooner was, the committee organ ized, than Senator LaFollette pre- sented his amendments to the trans portation act The senior senator from Wisconsin has long advertised his enmfty to the basis on which the Interstate Commerce Commission has been proceeding to a permanent rail valuation, and now directly challenges congress to do what 1t has never be- fore found the courage to do, namely, to wiring the water from the railroads. Whether even now congress will pro- ceed to the lengths advocated by the radicals is problematical, but that re- formatory action will be taken appears beyond question. MT. LaFollette's purpose, as he himself declares, is to ascertain the original costs of rail- road properties, so as to determine the amount of money "actually and prudently invested" and to provide that 'where reliable records have not been preserved by the railroads, origi-. nal costs shall be estimated from the ample data which are available" The purpose of the amendments, of course, is to place the valuation on a bedrock basis 50 that the legal rates will be automatically reduced.
 Whether the majority will be will ing to go as far as MT. LaFollette and his immediate group is doubtful. By being extreme, however, they will compel the more conservative to yield more than they otherwise would. Perhaps the middle ground between the conservatives and the radicals is equitable ground. It is complained by shippers and producers, everywhere that rail rates are too high. Inasmuch as the rates. earn no exorbitant return on the tentative valuation of rail, properties, the inference of those who demand rate reductions is that the valuation is too high.
 However that may be, the hour that the railroads have for years been dreading is at hand. There will be a merciless scrutiny of railroad values and determined effort to reject from the items those values that are Gin Hated or fictitious" to use Senator LaFollette's language. If the railroads can prove their right to existing values, we'll and good. If they cannot, then the present inquiry is more than jus tified.