The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-11-04
TO REGULATE
INTERSTATE
BUS TRAFFIC
Motor Bus Division Of the A
4. 4. Proposes Law For
That Purpose

Washington, ID. C.. Nov. t. Ma
tional leaders here, men in and out
81 congress, are giving serious CON
sidcration to Il plan advanced by the
American Automobile Association
whereby Federal authority would be
conferred upon the state governments
to regulate the huge and rapidly ex-
panding interstate motor bus traffic.
The plan. which was submitted by
the Motor Bus Division Of the A. a.
A., at the Interstate Commerce Com
missions hearing which has just
closed here, admittedly is departure
from the ordinary line drawn be-
tween national and state regulatory
systems, but is believed by leading
lawyers. members Of Congress and
others who have studied it to be we'll
within tho limits Of the Constitution.
They agree that il undoubtedly would
provide much needed regulation in Il
field left devoid Of governmental SUI
pcrvision for nearly two years.
Provisions Of Bill
At the Interstate Commerce COM
missions hearing, the A. A. A. Motor
Bus Division. which is the national
organization Of state bus associations.
submitted proposed bill which. il
enacted, would delegate to commits
sions Of the various states the Fed
eral authority to regulate passenger
bus service lines operating in inter
state commerce. Such Il law would set
a precedent in the history Or Amcri-
can transportation legislation, since
it would give to every state powers
heretofore confined to the national
government. However, to make it
constitutional. the Motor Bus Division
proposes that in application Of the
law. the Interstate Commerce Com
mission would retain final authority,
and that it would constitute an APP
peal court in eases brought up from
the state commissions.
The proposal was submitted after
eighteen months Of careful study by
the Legislative committee Of the Mo-
tor Bus Division, and is Certain to
be an effective means Of eliminating
the chaos resulting from the lack Of
supervision, the Commission was told
This lack OF supervision has obtained
eyer since the United States Supreme
Court ruled year and half ago
that states could neither grant nor
refuse "licensc Of convenience and
necessity to interstate bus compnn-
jos. thus declaring the field an open
one.
Regulation is Demanded
That the A. A. A. proposal will be
given careful cons idcration when the
Interstate Commerce Commission
makes. up recommendations on bus
traffic is certain. A series Of hear
ings held throughout tho nation dur
ing the summer months developed
that widespread demand for regu-
laticn exists, opposition being voiced
In only one instance. The A. A. A.
plan, il WAS brOueb: out ut the hear
ing here. has the Endorsement. Of bus
associations in ~ states. or the great
cr number Of organized bus men in
America.
In its principle of regulation, the
measure also is agreed to by the
railways and other factions interest
3D. the only point Of dispute being
in the details. In former measure
Drawn up months ago, the same pro.
.p0saf In principle was advanced. That
this plum might be anne ndcd so as to
conform to tho. needs of the bus men,
tho most vitality interested faction
tho Motor Bus Division undertook to
frame the new measure.