Evening star., 1924-01-09
URGES LONG POLICY
IN TRANSPORTATION
Hoover Lists Ten Points for
U. S. Program in Confer
ence Speech.

damental necessity for securing the
economic future in the United States.
Herbert Hoover declared today in an
address before the opening session
of the transportation conference
called by the Chamber of Commerce
of the United States. The commerce
Secretary listed ten points of applica-
tion for such policies, among which
were q statutory revision of the Rail-
road Labor Boards powers on a basis
to be determined by agreement be-
tween labor organizations and rail-
road executives, reorganization of the
rate structure, early consolidation of
the railroads into few powerful
systems and inland waterway devel-
opment under national plan.
The conference, which was called
to consider problems involved in the
development of national system
covering all of the agencies of trans
portation, railways. waterways and
with representatives of each of the
three branches of the industry tax
ing part in the discussions.
Barnes fer Coordination.
Julius H. Barnes, president of the
Chamber of Commerce of the United
States, opened the conference with
the declaration that 'the time has
come when national policies which
affect railroads, through regulation,
and affect as well water highways
and motor highways, must be co-or-
dinated to stimulate and encourage
the expansion which every study
shows will be inevitably required.
Surveys made by three special
committees of the organization ap-
pointed to study different phases OF
the transportation were submitted
today as bases for the general dis
cussions of the conference. In ad-
dition to these reports, three more
of which are to be presented tomor-
row, and the addresses of Mr.. Hoover
and Mr.. Barnes, Walker d. Hines,
former director general of railroads:
discussed the rate making provisions of
the transportation act.
Mr.. Hoover, in urging the need for
"long-view national policies in trans
portation," declared "the solution of
the problems in such policies is only
in part a matter of legislation and
governmental relations"
They are, in large part, to be
solved by initiative and voluntary
corporation amongst the business
community" he declared. "If l were
to attempt to express my personal
views of such national policies
stripped of secondary considerations
i would enumerate them somewhat
in the following terms, and much of
your subcommittee reports support
such conclusions.
Private Ownership.
"1. Railway service, under private
ownership, in order to secure the
driving force of individual initiative
in efficiency and development.
"2. Government regulation of fair
rates and railway finance. in order
to protect the shipper and to give
stability to honest investment of saw
ings.
"3. Recapture of excess profits, in
order to allow rates which Will as
sure operation and service from rail-
ways in less favored circumstances
yet prevent unjustified profits from
any particular railways.
a. The earliest practicable con-
solidation of the railways into larger
systems under conditions of main
tained competition in service in order
to secure greater economy in opera
. ton, assurance of development and
lower rates, and greater stability in
earnings.
"5. A basis of employer and en-
ploye relationship that will stimulate
mutual responsibility as the first re-
quisite to continuous service.
"6. Reorganization of the rate
structure in order to secure better
adjustment of the burden between
commodity, class and less than car
load rates. most of which can best
be accomplished after consolidation
and consequent wider diversification
of traffic.
Trafiic CO-Operation.
"7. Cooperation between the ship
per and the railways in order to Sc
cure a better distribution of traffic
over the year and to avoid conges-
tion of peak periods of car shortages.
"S. Definite development of relief
In freight terminals, including CO.
ordination with motor truck feeders
and distribution.
80. Development of proper joint
rates and service by water and rail
transportation in order to relieve ex-
sary and give the public the ad-
vantage of cheaper water transport
10. comprehensive national plan
OF inland waterway development in
substitution of hit and miss activi-
ties, with priority in development to
rivers and canals where substantial
traffic may be expected, including
development of the st. Lawrence
waterway"
Cooperation between business or
ganizations and railroad representa-
tives to make better use Of the car
riers, Mr.. Hoover continued, already
has accomplished some results, but
he thought the question of terminal
improvement would require expert
mental treatment in various COM
munities.
Consolidation proposals, he said,
could be greatly stimulated and
expedited" by allowing federal in
corporation of railroads, and setting
up semi-legal committees for each
consolidated system deemed advisable,
to work out schemes for exchanging
securities and other details of pro-
cedure.
Stimulus for Nation.
Mr.. Barnes declared that "transporta-
tion must itself maintain and advance
the processes of industry, which write
themselves into individual employment
and opportunity, and the national pros
perity.
Transportation has. itself. stimulated
the earning power of all other industry"
he said. Fair play requires that We
should inquire whether 1t has been
justly treated, and self interest requires
, that we shall eliminate such relation Of
! unfairness-if there be any--in order
that capital and investment may be re-
lied upon to enter this field with in
creasing needs"
Mr. Hines told the delegates that
repeal Of the e-making rule of the
transportation act without any sub
stitute being enacted would mean
that the very essence of the affirma-
tive part of the legislative machinery
for regulating the railroads and in
suring the public adequate railroad
service is to be eliminated.
mo change in the law is neces-
asry,' he said. ito accomplish reduc-
tions in rates to the extent that rail-
road costs are reduced" as he de-
clared he could think of but one
group Of the public that can find an
adequate motive for advocating such
a change in the law, and that is the
group that wishes to see private op-
Grafton fail. so as to make govern
ment operation a necessity"
MEETJNG Ic pncTp0NEn