Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-01-18
ALSO MOTOR COMMON
CARRIERS

How regulate vehicles engaged as
common carriers in interstate COM
merce? Senator Cummins of Iowa,
member of the committee on Inter-
state Commerce, thinks he knows
how 1t should be done and he has
introduced in Congress a.bill to do
it. Those who propose the measure
say that it has been approved in the
main by the steam and electric rail-
ways and the bus division of the A.
A. A., is the outcome of recent de-
cisions of the u. S. Supreme Court
holding that no existing statute gives
any federal or local authority to
regulate such vehicles.
The friends of the measure are
careful to assure us that this pro-
posed measure would. broadly speak
ing, give State boards the same gen.
eral control over interstate carriers
as they now have over carriers with
in the State, the intrastate carriers.
but through power delegated by Con-
gress, and there would be right Of
appeal from the State commission to
the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion.
I'm determining whether public
convenience and necessity would re-
quire the granting of certificate, the
board or commission would be charg-
ed with giving reasonable considera-
ton, among other pertinent matters,
to available transportation service by
railroad, or other existing transpor-
tation agency, to the character OF the
service to be rendered by the appli-
cant, to the likelihood of the pro-
posed service being adequate, per-
manent, and continuous, and to the
, effect that such service may have
! upon any other transportation
agency, the continued operation of
which is important to the comrnuni-
| ties served thereby. The board or
| commission also would be given the
| right to regulate weights of load,
number of passengers, adequate SER
| vice and otherwise place such limita-
lions on the motor carriers as are
not placed on steam and electric
roads.
Bonds to guarantee passengers
against loss or damaged property
would be required from certain car :
riers. The amount of the bonds
would be left to official discretion.
Permission would be given to exempt
carriers who could convince the
board that they were financially re-
sponsible for any accident OF loss
which might occur. -
| Regulation regarding fixing OF
rates and fares and the publication
| thereof. and the keeping OF accounts,
would be similar to that now pldceu
on electric and steam transportation
company operators and buses OPERA
ed in interstate service IN 80 states
where regulatory statutes are In ell
foot and would be exercised by the
state commissions in the states IN
VOWED. with right of appeal to the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
Without raising question as to the
need of such regulation it would seem
proper to suggest that this matter De
given careful consideration. Reguia-
tion becomes an essential OF present
day complexities, but instances occur
where in seeking the greater soo1
sufficient attention is not given to
retaining lesser advantages, WHICH
are thrown into the discard. not al
WAYS necessarily. A few years ago
for instance in this State, small VII
lagos for convenience and hre pro-
lection undertook to form mutua
water companies. Then came sucf
regulations that this practise appears
TO have been discouraged, and ao'
vantages once SO obtained are no.
being sought, it is said. 1t is not al
together uncommon to learn IRON
experience that regulations meet
regulating. Anyhow, they should no
be adopted without due consideration
of all the factors involved, something
of which all intelligent persons are
fully aware, but not always attentive
| onJ IN