Evening star., 1926-10-27
CHANGERS OPPOSE
FEDERAL BUS RULE
Interstate Commerce Com
mission Hearing Develops
First Hostility to Plan.

The first definite opposition to Fed
eral regulation of interstate transpor
tation by motor bus and truck de-
veloped today at the third days ses-
sion of hearing eliminating a Ma
tionwide survey of the truck and bus
situation by the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
The National Grange, an organiZa-
ton of farmers, in a paper presented
by T. c. Atkeson, it's Washington rep
resentative, declared that since the
highways are outside of Federal juris-
dictiOn, except in so far as they carry
the mails, the Interstate Commerce
Commission ''is without authority to
take cognizance and control over
them"
Admittedly, however," Mr.. Alike.
son continued, the control of the
road and of the traffic over this road
may be assumed and taken over by
State. The argument that because the
transportation of persons or property,
or both, over highways by motor
trucks or motor busses is in competi-
ton with the business of the railroads
and becomes interstate commerce can
not be maintained. The argument thai
traffic on motor trucks or busseS which
proceeds to or from a railroad termi-
nal, to be, or which has been moved
by rail in Interstate commerce, is
thereby made Interstate is very far
fetched argument.
Viewpoint of Farmer.
1.-The farm producers who use this
form of transportation, and Who are
increasing this use day by day, want
safe roads and competitive prices.
While most of this is done in owner
operated vehicles, every farmer-opera-
tor wishes freedom of choices between
using his own vehicle and time on the
road, or using a truck for hire, re-
leasing his labor, attention and ve-
hicle for purposes Of production Pro
vided that the road is kept up and
that 1t is kept safe, his further inter-
est lies in the utmost freedom Of this
whole great fabric Of activity from in
reference, regulation or impediment."
A few moments before Assistant
Secretary j. Walter Drake of the
Commerce Department described the
motor truck and motor bus as indis-
pensable adjuncts to a transportation
system which has resulted in unparal-
leled prosperity for the American peo-
Pile.
1.-The backbone Of our transporta-
tiOn system is the railroads." Mr.
Drake said. eve have approximately
$4,000 communities in this country
with freight stations on the railways
The many communities lacking freight
transfer facilities have been linked
to the railways by motor truck and
motor bus, and have been brought
into the transportation scheme in this
way. The motor truck is an indis-
penSable aid in relieving terminal
congestion and in facilitating store
door delivery. The bus is an indis-
pensable adjunct to electric railways,
not alone as competitors, but as CO.
operating agencies"
Says Competition Keen.
DR.. Drake declared that II per cent
Of the busSes now operating in the
United States are directly or indirectly
in competition with the railroads. He
added that by the liberal use of the
motor bus and motor truck every con-
Sumer has been benefited, and it's use
has contributed greatly to raising of
living standards, prosperity and pro-
ductivity.
Thomas II. Macdonald, chief of the
Bureau Of Public Roads, concluded a
statement begun yesterday explaining
the position Of his bureau that CO
operation between the States under
power delegated by Congress would
serve to regulate motor bus and truck
operation interstate. He was sharply
questioned as to the constitutionality
Of Congress delegating such power by
A. p. Thorn, general counsel for the
Association of Railway Executives.